Kia workers approve deal, end strike
REP. OF KOREA: On July 23, unionised workers at Kia Motors voted by a two-thirds majority to ratify the collective bargaining agreement reached on July 19 between union negotiators and management at South Korea’s No. 2 automaker.
After a month-long partial (12-hour-a-day) strike over improved wages and bonus payments, workers accepted the company’s offer of a monthly pay hike of 9.1 per cent, or 95,000 won (US$82.18), and a “performance” bonus of 150 per cent of the monthly wage plus 800,000 won (US$692). In addition to this, each worker will receive a special incentive bonus of 1.5 million won (US$1,292).
Other key points in the settlement include:
- union access to company business information to be extended;
- union shop to apply to R&D and sales department;
- time alloted for union activities to be increased for shop stewards;
- regarding the 40-hour workweek, Kia to follow the parent company Hyundai or the government’s formal legislation (current working conditions and wages levels would be maintained);
- women’s maternity rights to be strengthened.
