Korea GM Labor and Management Hold 6th Wage Negotiation in Changwon... Discuss 'Attracting New Engine Volume' and More

Next-Generation CUV Engine Production Volume Attraction Possibility and Other Topics

Korea GM labor and management visited the Changwon plant on the 20th to comprehensively reassess the ongoing investment situation within the Changwon factory for the next-generation global new products. (Photo by Korea GM)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ji-hee] The labor and management of Korea GM jointly reviewed the status of new product preparations and held wage and collective bargaining agreement (wage and collective agreement) negotiations this year at the Changwon plant on the 20th.

According to the industry on the 21st, Korea GM labor and management held the 6th round of 2020 wage and collective agreement negotiations at the Changwon plant the previous afternoon. At this meeting, including CEO Kaher Kazem and other executives, and Kim Seong-gap, head of the Metal Workers' Union Korea GM branch, discussed securing volume such as attracting new engine volume for the next-generation crossover utility vehicle (CUV) scheduled for production at the Changwon plant after 2022.

The union stated, "We propose to discuss through negotiations the plan to produce the engines applied to the next-generation CUV currently produced in Mexico and other locations at the Changwon plant." The union argued, "It is unreasonable that a plant with an annual production capacity of 270,000 units does not have an engine factory," and added, "Also, is there an alternative if a problem occurs at the Mexico engine plant?"

In response, the management reportedly conveyed that considering development costs and other factors, the engine produced in Mexico was decided as the alternative.

After about an hour and 30 minutes of negotiations, labor and management toured the plant together. Korea GM labor and management visited the construction site of the painting plant under construction within the Changwon plant to check compliance with safety regulations for GM's next-generation global new product production. They also reaffirmed that the promised investment according to the future plan confirmed in 2018 is proceeding without any setbacks.

A Korea GM official said, "This visit was made to frequently check whether the facility investment for the global new product, which will play an important role in the future business amid the ongoing uncertainty of the recent business environment, is proceeding as planned with labor and management together."

Meanwhile, the 6th round of this wage and collective agreement negotiation was held at the Changwon plant as part of the workplace tour negotiations.

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