Hyundai Labor Union Approves Strike Over Wage Demands

The union is demanding a monthly base salary increase of 149,600 won—roughly $96.82—alongside performance bonuses tied to 30% of last year’s net profit. Beyond immediate financial compensation, labor representatives are pressing management for ironclad job security guarantees as artificial intelligence technologies begin to reshape manufacturing workflows. The strike authorization arrives as industry-wide sentiment shifts, bolstered by Samsung Electronics’ recent decision to award chip division employees a performance payout equivalent to 10.5% of operating profits. Government-led mediation is currently the only barrier preventing an immediate walkout, as both sides remain deadlocked over the scale of the proposed increases.