HD Hyundai Heavy union votes to authorize strike

The Korean Metal Workers' Union's Hyundai Heavy Industries branch has secured the legal right to strike, heightening tensions across the shipbuilding industry. The union held a strike authorization vote from Tuesday through Sept. 3, with 66.18 percent of all eligible members and 95.93 percent of those who cast ballots voting in favor.

Of the union's 8,127 total members, 5,607 — or 68.99 percent — participated in the vote. The tally showed 5,379 in favor, 219 opposed and 9 invalid ballots.

The National Labor Relations Commission ruled Monday that the gap between HD Hyundai Heavy and its union was too wide to bridge, and halted mediation efforts.

In this year's wage and collective bargaining talks, the union is demanding a base pay increase of 149,600 won ($108) per month — separate from seniority-based raises — a 100 percent increase in bonuses, a minimum 30 percent share of operating profit as performance pay, and the inclusion of vacation allowances in the calculation of ordinary wages.

The two sides have held 17 rounds of negotiations since their first meeting on June 2, but have failed to reach an agreement due to sharply diverging positions. Last year, the union staged four general strikes and 11 partial strikes before a deal was reached.