Hyundai Motor Union Drastically Changed: "Let's Overcome the COVID-19 Crisis by Increasing Production"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] "Without customers, neither the union nor the company can exist." (Hyundai Motor Labor Union newsletter dated February 12)

The Hyundai Motor Labor Union is showing a changed attitude by taking the lead in appealing to union members to recover productivity after the shutdown, for the company hit hard by the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia) crisis.

On the 12th, the Hyundai Motor Union stated in a newsletter titled "The novel coronavirus infection cannot break the will of labor and management to survive," "The minds of union members who had to take leave due to temporary shutdown were probably not at ease," and added, "The company must take responsibility for parts supply with its life on the line, and union members must actively work to recover productivity based on quality."

Due to the novel coronavirus crisis, Hyundai Motor had to sequentially shut down factories starting from the 4th because the supply of 'wiring harness' parts imported from China was cut off. After parts production resumed at Chinese factories, Ulsan Plant 2, which produces the GV80, Palisade, Santa Fe, and Tucson, restarted on the 11th, a week after the shutdown, and on the same day, one line out of two lines each at Ulsan Plants 4 and 5 was operated. However, since parts supply is still not smooth, it is expected to take time to fully normalize operations.

The Hyundai Motor Union said, "Union members must never have a rigid mindset toward the union's appeal for labor-management survival," and added, "If only the management side empathizes with the will to change, Hyundai Motor will become a company that gives hope to the public."

It is unusual that the Hyundai Motor Union, which had been imprinted with an image focused solely on strikes and struggles, emphasized productivity recovery to union members. The Hyundai Motor Union has been socially criticized for repeatedly striking during wage and collective bargaining negotiations, prioritizing union members' interests. Also, last December, when the company restricted Wi-Fi use during working hours, the union decided to refuse overtime work but later withdrew the decision.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.