Fissures among Unionists
A tentative agreement struck between the labor and management of Hyundai Motor on September 26 was rejected as a record high 78% of the votes were cast against it. Inside, even though the labor union blamed it on the management, it was pointed out that the leadership of the labor union failed to accurately grasp the opinions of labor union members. This means that actually, an internal friction within the labor union set off the veto. The labor-labor conflict inside Hyundai Motor has reached the worst-ever level.
As the Hyundai Motor Labor Union went on a full strike in 12 years on September 26, the automaker endured a decline in output of 7,200 units or 160 billion won on the day alone. At last, the Hyundai Motor management blasted the labor union that started an overall strike, saying, “Iron out differences within the labor union.” The management is claiming that the labor and management hammered out the tentative agreement after long agony and deliberations but differences in opinions inside the labor union prolong the negotiation.
Hyundai Motor workers who became tired due to repeated labor strikes are having conflicting interests over participating in the walkout. As 20 strikes have brought setbacks to their work this year alone, team leaders who are non-unionists are blocking team members who are unionists from taking part in the strike. “The strike without a just cause creates a fissure inside the labor union,” industry watchers say. They evaluate that their internal unity is weakening.
Industry experts see this aspect as a loosening bond among members of the Hyundai Motor Labor Union. They analyze that some unionists under the protection of the radical labor union who choose work over the strike are different from past actions of the labor union although the strike is led by white-collar workers.