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The public has grown tired of talking about and hearing about Hyundai Motor. Instead of cars, Hyundai Motor is producing stories that offend consumers. One of them is the rejection of a double-shift production system by unionized workers at Hyundai¡¯s bus plant in Jeonju. In January, they refused to work night shifts, which the company seeks in order to handle increasing orders for buses. The union said the night work violates their rights to a healthy life. In other words, they don¡¯t like to work at night.
The Jeonju plant¡¯s share of Korea¡¯s bus market fell to 50.9 percent last year from 57.5 percent in 2004. But the union has refused to meet growing orders from Russia and other emerging markets, and from Korea, where demand is rising due to more leisure time as more companies have implemented the shorter, five-day work week.
Hyundai¡¯s Jeonju plant is losing domestic orders to its rivals, while overseas orders are being snatched up by Japanese automakers. Last year, Hyundai lost an order for 300 buses from Saudi Arabia ahead of the annual pilgrimage and had to turn down orders from Peru and Colombia. That¡¯s because it was impossible to meet those orders with workers working only the day shift. Shipping is being delayed as well, as it takes between four to 10 months to deliver buses.
The parts suppliers who beefed up manpower and facilities to meet an anticipated double shift are facing financial trouble. The 700 new workers hired to work the evening shift are expected to be laid off. Those workers, who beat out 30 others to gain that position last October, stood outside the company holding pickets calling for mercy to no avail.
Unionized workers had claimed that hiring the 700 workers would lead to less work for others over the long term and trigger possible layoffs. They are selfish. It would be strange if their employer continues to make money under these circumstances. And if the company goes bankrupt, these selfish workers better not cry out for help.
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