|
Operations came to a halt at Hyundai Motor headquarters and research center early Wednesday morning. Words spread that at 7:40 a.m., 800 protesting union workers boarded 22 buses from the automaker¡¯s plant in the southern industrial town of Ulsan and headed for Seoul. Supporters from Hyundai¡¯s Jeonju and Asan plants also headed for Seoul to join the protest, while unionized workers from other companies and groups such as Kia Motors, GM Daewoo, Ssangyong Motors, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and a nationwide metal workers union were also expected to show up. Such news dampened the atmosphere at Hyundai¡¯s headquarters.
Since late December, workers had refused overtime work, demanding a higher bonus even though they failed to meet last year¡¯s output target. When the company took a tough stance, unionized workers formed groups to head to Seoul to protest in front of Hyundai Motor¡¯s headquarters, vowing to realize their demands.
Riot police and private security guards rushed to Hyundai Motor¡¯s headquarters. Around noon, 60 riot police buses encircled the main headquarters and research center. Employees going in and out of the buildings had to present their company ID cards. On the first and second floors of the headquarters, 2,500 riot police and 300 private security guards stood watch. In the sky, a police helicopter circled around the compound, with its rotors thundering in the air. It was like a battle scene.
At 1 p.m., a thousand unionized workers converged on a street in front of Hyundai Motor¡¯s headquarters, with loudspeakers blaring out protest songs as the workers chanted ¡°Down with the company!¡± There was not a single word of apology over the violence they displayed during the company¡¯s New Year meeting on January 3.
The reaction from the public was anything but supportive as they watched the lawless muscle-flexing by the unionized workers. People inside buses passing by the scene shouted, ¡°Why don¡¯t you all go bankrupt!¡± or ¡°Just wonderful! Just wonderful!¡± in a sarcastic way. One pedestrian trying to pass through the traffic gridlock caused by the protesters looked at the logos written on the red jackets worn by the workers that read ¡°Creating a Better Workplace.¡± The pedestrian scowled, ¡°A better workplace only for you!¡±
Right now, global automakers are engaged in a cut-throat race to develop new technology, well aware that one wrong step spells doom for the entire company. At this hour in Detroit, Ford, Toyota, BMW and other major carmakers are racing to introduce their latest models. But Korea¡¯s foremost automaker¡¯s headquarters is not bustling with researchers, but with riot police and unionized workers. Looking at the standoff, one Hyundai Motor employee said, ¡°I wish we could close down for two or even three months, if that could set labor relations straight.¡±
Unfazed, the head of Hyundai Motor¡¯s labor union said if the high-ranking union members on Friday vote for a strike, all workers would down tools starting next week. As Hyundai¡¯s global rivals are struggling to survive, it appears Hyundai is rushing to its death.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
