Korean Shipbuilding and Offshore Plant Industry "Daewoo Shipbuilding Subcontractors' Union... Accept Eviction Order"

Officials of the '7.23 Daewoo Shipbuilding Subcontractor Workers' Hope Bus,' supporting the strike of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering subcontractor labor union, are performing at a press conference announcing detailed plans for the Hope Bus in front of the Korea Development Bank in Yeouido, Seoul on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] The shipbuilding and offshore plant industry urged the subcontractor union striking at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's Okpo Shipyard to "humbly accept the eviction order, promptly cease illegal activities, and engage in negotiations."

On the same day, President Yoon Suk-yeol hinted at the deployment of public authority in response to the subcontractor union's strike, escalating the situation to a critical point.

In an appeal on the 19th, the shipbuilding and offshore plant industry stated, "The strike by the Metal Workers' Union Geoje Tongyeong Goseong Shipbuilding Subcontractor Branch is not only making things difficult for Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering," adding, "The damage will spread to small and medium shipbuilders and parts suppliers, putting the survival of the domestic shipbuilding industry in an uncertain crisis, ultimately leading to fatal consequences such as the loss of competitiveness of the domestic shipbuilding industry."

They continued, "Since the order drought in 2016, orders for domestic shipbuilders have increased from the fourth quarter of 2020 due to the global LNG demand surge and the upcoming implementation of eco-friendly regulations, which have increased demand for eco-friendly ships," criticizing, "The subcontractor union's illegal strike is an act that pours cold water on these recovery efforts."

In particular, they pointed out, "The delay in launching is an unprecedented situation in the shipbuilding industry," adding, "Although there have been turbulent strike periods in the past, the union never occupied the dock or held ships scheduled for delivery hostage. The union also respected the boundaries that should not be crossed."

The industry lamented, "Among Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering's in-house partner company workers, about 120 are participating in the strike," stating, "A small number are engaging in illegal acts such as occupying production facilities, threatening the livelihoods of the majority of workers."

They added, "If the eviction order is not complied with, the government must immediately deploy public authority to resume production first and thoroughly investigate and enforce the law against illegal activities to restore order, and we earnestly request this."

Meanwhile, on the same day, President Yoon hinted at the possibility of deploying public authority regarding the subcontractor union strike, saying, "In industrial sites and labor-management relations, illegal acts should not be tolerated or allowed, whether by labor or management," and added, "I think both the public and the government have waited long enough."

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