Hanwha Ocean Subcontractor Union Begins Hunger Strike
Subcontracted workers at Hanwha Ocean will begin a hunger strike from on Nov. 16, demanding that wages, employment and other core livelihood issues be included on the bargaining agenda. With a high-altitude sit-in that began at the end of September dragging on, tensions between labor and management
On November 16, workers at Hanwha Ocean will commence a hunger strike, pressing for wage, employment, and other vital employment matters to be on the bargaining agenda. High tensions between labor and management have intensified due to a prolonged high-altitude sit-in that began in late September. The Geoje-Tongyeong-Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractors Branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union and the Welliv Branch announced that three individuals - Kang In-seok, the branch head; Kang Bong-jae, deputy branch head; and Lee Hyeong-ju, Welliv branch head - will embark on the hunger strike.
Kang, currently involved in a high-altitude sit-in at Hanwha Ocean’s painting factory in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, will maintain the hunger strike at the protest site, while Lee and deputy branch head Kang intend to join from a tent protest site within the company.
The hunger strike was provoked after six rounds of negotiations with the main contractor since October 8 failed to yield any results. The union emphasized that Hanwha Ocean only permits discussions on six safety-related topics, turning down attempts to negotiate on key concerns such as wages, employment, welfare, and union activities.
The union dismissed Hanwha Ocean’s stance, stating that if the company continues to ignore wage and employment issues, which are under their effective decision-making power, negotiations with the principal contractor would lose meaning. For the Welliv Branch, preserving members' jobs is of utmost urgency as they approach contract renewal in April next year.
In addition to the hunger strike, the two branches also intend to initiate collective preparation for a joint strike. They announced a press conference at the South Gyeongsang Provincial Government’s press center on November 16 to declare the commencement of the hunger strike and urge the principal contractor to adopt a more pro-active position.
Both labor and management are set to meet for the seventh round of negotiations with the principal contractor at Hanwha Ocean on November 19.
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