GM Korea workers continue partial strike over wage talks

SEOUL, Nov. 11 (Yonhap) -- Unionized workers at GM Korea Co. said Wednesday that they will continue their partial strike this week for higher wages despite the company's statement that it may reconsider planned investments in its plants.

GM Korea's daytime and night-duty workers will stage a four-hour strike from Wednesday to Friday, while continuing to refuse to work overtime during the week and on the weekend, union spokesman Cho Ha-soo said over the phone.

The daytime and night workers already held two rounds of partial strikes for four working days during the Oct. 30-Nov. 10 period at the No. 2 Bupyeong plant in Incheon, just west of Seoul.

The union's decision to extend the strikes comes after the company said last week that it will reconsider investing in the main Bupyeong plant for the production of a next-generation vehicle for exports if the union continues to strike and affect production.

GM Korea already suffered over 60,000 vehicles in production losses in the first half amid the pandemic, with output losses caused by the partial walkout estimated at 12,000 units.

The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB), the second-biggest shareholder in GM Korea, said Friday an extended strike will thwart the company's efforts to put its business back on track.

"GM Korea is at a critical juncture of producing more vehicles for exports to the United States and developing a new vehicle. But repetitive strikes continue to weigh on its operations," the KDB said.

GM owns a 67 percent stake in GM Korea, and the KDB holds a 17 percent stake in the Korean unit.

At stake is the company's proposal to have wage talks every two years, not once a year, to reduce uncertainties ahead, which was rejected by the union.

The company suggested providing 7 million won (US$6,200) in cash bonuses per person if the union accepts the biennial wage talks proposal.

GM Korea, the South Korean unit of General Motors Co., held 22 rounds of negotiations with its union since July, but they have yet to narrow differences over the size of bonuses and future vehicle allocation plans.

The union asked the company to raise the basic pay by 120,000 won per worker and offer four months of salary as a bonus and 6 million won in cash, while demanding a new vehicle production plan at the No. 2 Bupyeong plant after 2022.

The union argues there should be a new vehicle to replace the Trax compact SUV and Malibu midsize sedan currently being produced at the plant.

But the company has balked at the demands, citing the unfavorable business environment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and steady demand for the models in global markets.

The Detroit carmaker has three Korean plants -- two in Bupyeong and one in Changwon -- whose combined output capacity reaches 630,000 units a year.

kyongae.choi@yna.co.kr
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