Strikes at Hyundai and Kia Continue

Strike talks continue...
Hyundai Motor Co. and its unions made some progress in wage talks on Monday, but the union said it would continue strike actions..

Unionised workers at Hyundai, South Korea's top auto maker, have stopped work for several hours each day since August 25, causing millions in lost production Hyundai Motor has estimated.

Its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., the country's No. 2 carmaker, also has suffered similar stoppages since August 29 and seen an estimated $257.1 million in losses.


Some good news...
Hyundai's 42,500-strong union said in its Web site it had reached agreement with the company on Monday on terms of medical and other benefits but remained at odds over key issues.

Union officials noted "We have discussed other unsettled issues, but the talks ended after arguments due to differences."

Hyundai expressed hope that the two sides could reach a deal.

""I think we've made some progress and are heading to a full agreement," a company spokesman said. "But it's hard to predict when this will end."

The union is demanding a monthly basic salary increase of 8.5 percent as well as higher bonuses and incentives. It also wants the company to expand local production to preserve union members' jobs.

Hyundai's union said its members would continue the stoppages until Wednesday, when the next round of talks with the company is scheduled. It said it would discuss further actions later.

The union at Kia, with 27,100 members, also plans to continue strike actions at least until Wednesday.

Kia workers also seek higher salaries and better working conditions, but negotiations have stalled with no agreement. A Kia union spokesman said the company expects to resume talks on Tuesday. .