On November 24, 200 union members gathered before the gates of the Ssangyong assembly plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province to demand the reinstatement of previously fired employees. (Image: Korean Metal Workers’ Union)
SEOUL, Nov. 27 (Korea Bizwire) – Members of the Ssangyong Motor chapter of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union want to resolve therir dispute with their employer and are willing to head to India for a face-to-face with the top leadership of Mahindra and Mahindra, the Indian auto corporation that owns a majority stake in Ssangyong.
On November 24, 200 union members gathered before the gates of the Ssangyong assembly plant in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province to demand the reinstatement of previously fired employees.
According to the group, upper management agreed to make efforts to return hired employees to work by the first half of this year as per negotiations in 2015, but so far only 37 have been reinstated, with 130 still waiting in the lurch.
The Ssangyong Motor chapter already voyaged to India to protest in September 2015. The upcoming trip is scheduled for December 1, and three members are to go to represent the group.
The Ssangyong Motor chapter already voyaged to India to protest in September 2015. The upcoming trip is scheduled for December 1, and three members are to go to represent the group. (Image: Yonhap)
One of the leaders, Kim Deuk-joong, said, “The agreed upon first half of the year is in the rearview mirror yet the company is not upholding its side of the bargain. [We] will meet with the chairman of Mahindra and find out what his position is regarding the reinstatement of fired employees.”
Kim said, “We will not return home until we have met the chairman.”
Mahindra and Mahindra bought a 70 percent stake in the then struggling Ssangyong Motor in 2011. The South Korean automaker has seen its fortunes on the rebound since then, logging 3.6 trillion won in sales in 2016, more than a 50 percent increase from the 2.1 trillion won recorded in 2010.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
