Kumho Tire Begins 2026 Wage and Collective Bargaining Negotiations... "Focus on Management Normalization"

First Negotiation Meeting Amid Gwangju Plant Recovery and External Challenges

"Avoiding Fruitless Bargaining"... Emphasizing Mutual Growth Through Dialogue

Kumho Tire has officially begun this year's wage and collective bargaining negotiations.

With the task of normalizing production following the fire at the Gwangju plant last year, both labor and management have focused on securing future competitiveness and responding to management crises.

Kumho Tire announced on the 14th that it held the kickoff meeting for the '2026 Wage and Collective Bargaining Negotiations' at its Gwangju plant on the afternoon of the 13th.

The meeting was attended by CEO Chung Il-taek, Park Geun-seo, head of the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of the Korean Metal Workers' Union, Hwang Ho-gil, the chief negotiation representative from management (Head of Safety, Production, and Innovation), Jeong Jong-oh, the chief negotiation representative from the union (Branch Head), and a total of 16 negotiation committee members from both sides.

On the 13th, Chung Iltaek, CEO of Kumho Tire, Park Keunseo, head of the Metal Workers' Union Gwangju Jeonnam branch, and other negotiation committee members held a collective bargaining introductory meeting. [Photo by Kumho Tire]

The event proceeded with the introduction of the negotiation committee members, greetings from the CEO and chief negotiation representatives, and the exchange of letters of delegation.

CEO Chung stated, "I would like to express my deep gratitude to the union and all employees for joining efforts to restore normal operations and recover production after last year's fire at the Gwangju plant. As this is a crucial time to achieve the quality and competitiveness needed to compete in the global premium market, I hope these negotiations will serve as an opportunity for both sides to consider Kumho Tire's future competitiveness and sustainability together."

Hwang Ho-gil, the chief negotiation representative from management, said, "Overcoming the deteriorating external environment, such as rising tariffs and oil prices, is a key challenge. I hope this process will allow us to work together towards creating a safer and more competitive production site."

Jeong Jong-oh, the union's chief representative, also emphasized, "I hope these negotiations will focus on practical dialogue for the company's future, rather than being consumed by fruitless bargaining as in the past."

In particular, this year's wage and collective bargaining negotiations are taking place amid external variables such as the global economic slowdown, rising raw material prices, and surging international oil prices, creating considerable pressure for both labor and management.

Meanwhile, the company held a management briefing session for union members and delegates at the main auditorium of the annex building at the Gwangju plant earlier that morning, explaining recent business performance and worsening management conditions including the impact of the Iran war on soaring international oil prices, raw material cost burdens, and tariff issues, and requested cooperation.

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