Incheon: The labor union of GM Korea Co., the South Korean branch of U.S. automaker General Motors Co., has announced plans to initiate a partial strike this week following unsuccessful wage discussions with management, union officials disclosed on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, unionized workers are set to conduct two-hour walkouts across all shifts from Thursday to Friday, with plans to extend the walkouts to four hours starting Monday. Additionally, the union has pledged to abstain from overtime work. This decision was made after the 12th round of wage negotiations held at GM Korea's Bupyeong plant in Incheon failed to achieve a resolution.
The union and management are also in disagreement over GM Korea's proposal to sell its South Korean service centers and unused facilities. The union demands that the asset sale plan be retracted as a prerequisite for continuing wage talks. This labor dispute arises amid heightened concerns regarding the potential reduction or cessation of GM's manufacturing operations in South Korea if the United States continues to impose its 25 percent tariffs on auto imports.
GM Korea plays a significant role in exports, shipping approximately 410,000 vehicles annually, with about 85 percent of these exports directed to the U.S. market.