HMM Haewon Union Holds Off on Submitting Collective Resignation Letters... Adjusting Strike Pace

Considering Post-Strike Fallout Including Logistics Crisis
Common Struggle Committee Launch on 24th
Joint Press Conference by Land and Maritime Unions on 31st

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] The HMM Haewon Federation Union (Seamen's Union) is considering temporarily postponing the submission of collective resignation letters from its members. This is a provisional measure taken in consideration of the potential logistics chaos and other repercussions equivalent to a strike that could occur if the collective resignation letters are submitted.

According to the shipping industry on the 25th, HMM President Bae Jae-hoon, Kim Jin-man, Chairman of the Land Union, and Jeon Jeong-geun, Chairman of the Haewon Union, held a final wage negotiation for five hours yesterday afternoon at HMM headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the meeting, President Bae conveyed to the union side a request to "understand the company's circumstances," but did not mention any new wage proposals, confirming only the difference in positions between the two sides.

However, on the same day, the land and sea unions launched a Joint Struggle Committee (Gongtuwi) and reached a final agreement to conduct joint negotiations with management in the future. This is interpreted as a strategy to minimize the possibility of separate actions regarding labor disputes by the two unions and to present a unified voice.

The Haewon Union plans to fully engage in joint land-sea struggles after observing the results of the land union's strike vote scheduled for the 31st. This is also why the submission of collective resignation letters by Haewon Union members, scheduled for that day, has been temporarily postponed. However, the Haewon Union is still receiving resignation letters from members via email and other means until that day. This implies that they may use it as a card for collective action if necessary.

If the land union's strike vote passes, the two unions plan to hold a joint press conference immediately to announce key policies related to future labor disputes and strikes. Based on this, they aim to lead the wage renegotiations with President Bae and management, scheduled for the 1st of next month, more favorably and reach a final agreement.

Meanwhile, in a previous strike vote, the Haewon Union saw 400 out of 434 voters (92.1%) vote in favor, signaling the possibility of the first strike since the company's founding in 1976. The HMM Land Union, composed of office workers, is also scheduled to hold a strike vote on the 30th. While the two unions are demanding a 25% wage increase and a 1200% performance bonus this year, management has proposed an 8% wage increase, a 300% encouragement bonus, and an additional 200% incentive bonus after the year-end settlement.

An HMM union official said, "As of yesterday, the number of resignation letters sent by Haewon Union members has already exceeded double digits, and we are continuously receiving them through photos and emails. However, since submitting collective resignation letters to management would effectively constitute a labor dispute equivalent to a strike, we are considering monitoring the situation."

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