HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Union Starts Partial Strike

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries union members participating in a strike chant slogans at a partial strike rally in September 2026 (provided by the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries labor union)  The labor union at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries began a partial strike involving all union members for five days from on Oct. 19, following difficulties in this year’s wage and collective bargaining negotiations. The strike is the first collective action since the first tentative agreement was rejected in a union membership vote on on Oct. 2. The union began a seven-hour strike from 9 a.m. that day at the Ulsan headquarters and other sites. It plans to continue the strike for a total of seven hours each day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. excluding lunch hours, through on Oct. 23. The union had initially planned to have mainly officials participate during the first two days of the strike, but as negotiations made no progress, it raised the level of pressure by expanding the period of participation by all union members to five days. Tensions at worksites have also led to protest actions. Branch chief Kim Dong-ha climbed a 25-meter-high crane near the Daejoryip 1 plant at the Ulsan headquarters from 5 p.m. the previous day and has been staging a high-altitude sit-in protest for a second day. Kim Tae-am, head of the Mipo Committee made up of former HD Hyundai Mipo union members, has also continued a hunger strike for a 12th day since on Oct. 8 in protest against adjustments to working conditions and other issues. Labor and management began negotiations with their first meeting in June and reached their first tentative agreement on the 30th of last month. The proposal included a basic wage increase of 120,000 won ($88.80), including a 50,000-won step increase, and a one-time payment of 11 million won ($8,140.00) plus 200% in encouragement money and other payments. However, in the union membership vote held on Oct. 2, 52.14% of voters opposed the deal, and the tentative agreement was ultimately rejected. After the proposal was voted down, the union held two rounds of renewed negotiations with management on Oct. 13 and 15, but failed to produce results. That was because the company did not present any separate additional proposal beyond the existing tentative agreement. The union’s decision to expand the scale of the strike to all union members is seen as intended to pressure management into putting forward a more advanced proposal. The strike is expected to disrupt production processes. During the five-day period of intensive struggle announced by the union, whether management changes its stance will be a key variable determining the direction of future negotiations. With no additional proposal yet presented by the company, the confrontation between labor and management is expected to continue for the time being.