GM’s labor union said that the vote was only conducted to assess union members’ will to participate in a strike, and is not a definitive statement to go on a strike. (image: Korean Metal Workers’ Union)
INCHEON, Jul. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — GM Korea’s division with the Korean Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU) saw 70 percent of its members agree to go on a general strike against GM Korea, according to a statement on July 1.
Among 13,884 union members, 82.5 percent participated in the vote, and 9,832 members, or 70.8 percent of the voters, agreed to go on strike, while 1,594 members disagreed and 2,426 members abstained.
GM’s labor union said that the vote was only conducted to assess union members’ will to participate in a strike, and is not a definitive statement to go on a strike.
GM Korea and its labor union have held 12 negotiations so far to resolve wage increase issues and the company’s future plans, to no avail.
A labor union representative said that GM Korea needs to be more specific about its production plans, as the information will be crucial for workers to determine their income.
GM Korea’s Gunsan plant recently fired 198 non-regular workers as it reduced its number of subcontractors from 10 to 2, according to the KMWU’s Jeonbuk division on July 1.
By J. W. Choi (summerchoi@koreabizwire.com)
