Hyundai Motor union to stage more partial strikes over wage dispute
koreajoongangdaily.com Aug 18, 2026

Hyundai Motor union to stage more partial strikes over wage dispute

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

The Hyundai Motor union announced plans for additional partial strikes this week and next following the collapse of the 16th round of wage negotiations with management. The labor group, representing 40,000 workers, will conduct four-hour walkouts on Wednesday and Thursday, an eight-hour strike on Friday, and further four-hour actions on Monday and Tuesday of the following week. These actions add to the 44 hours of strikes already staged since talks began. The dispute centers on significant gaps in compensation demands. Union members are seeking a 149,600 won monthly base pay increase and a performance bonus equal to 30 percent of last year’s net profit. Conversely, management has offered an 80,000 won base increase, a bonus equivalent to 350 percent of monthly salary plus 10 million won, and 15 company shares. The failure to bridge this divide has escalated industrial action at the automaker.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · The widening gap between the union’s profit-sharing demands and management’s fixed-amount offers exposes deep structural disagreements on how to distribute corporate gains.
  • · This stalemate threatens to disrupt production schedules during a critical period for the automaker’s global supply chain.