Hyundai Motor workers to stage 4-day partial strikes amid wage dispute

The Hyundai Motor labor union announced it will conduct a four-day partial strike this week, following an unsuccessful wage agreement with management. The strikes are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with four-hour workdays, and Friday and Sunday, with six-hour shifts. Last month, the union initiated 30 hours of partial strikes and declined to work on certain Saturdays, causing an estimated loss of 42,510 vehicles.

This latest walkout follows the failure of previous negotiations. The two parties met for their 15th round of talks on July 8. The 40,000-member union is seeking a 149,600-won ($105.6) monthly pay raise and a performance-based bonus equal to 30 percent of the company's last year's net profit. The automaker, however, proposed an 80,000-won ($60) increase in monthly base pay, a bonus equivalent to 350 percent of the employee's monthly salary, and an additional 15 shares of company stock.