Hanwha Ocean ordered to bargain with catering, commuter bus union after court rejects stay bid

Hanwha Ocean will now be required to engage in collective bargaining not only with the Geoje-Tongyeong-Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractors' Branch but also with the Wellive Branch, which handles catering and commuter bus services at its shipyard.

According to the Korean Metal Workers' Union's joint struggle committee for winning direct bargaining at Hanwha Ocean, the Seoul Administrative Court rejected the company's application to suspend enforcement of a National Labor Relations Commission ruling.

The South Gyeongsang Province Regional Labor Relations Commission had earlier ordered Hanwha Ocean to include the Wellive Branch — which covers catering and commuter bus operations — in its public notice confirming the unions eligible for bargaining. The National Labor Relations Commission upheld that decision on review.

The commission determined that Hanwha Ocean qualifies as an off-contract employer with the practical authority to substantially control and determine working conditions for Wellive Branch members. Hanwha Ocean challenged the ruling, filing an administrative lawsuit and a stay application in July.

The court found that the commission's review decision was not unlawful and that there were insufficient grounds to establish the urgent necessity required to suspend the effect of the original ruling.

However, the court noted that even if Hanwha Ocean is obligated to engage in collective bargaining with the Wellive Branch under the labor commission's ruling, it is not required to accept all of the union's demands or conclude a collective agreement.

Hanwha Ocean said it plans to proceed with negotiations in line with the court's decision.

Meanwhile, the union said it will continue an aerial sit-in protest it has been staging inside the Hanwha Ocean shipyard since Wednesday until a collective bargaining agreement is reached.