Plant Construction Union votes for and against strike on the 19th... Wage negotiations break down

Ulsan = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang Ji-hyeon = The Ulsan branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Ulsan Plant Construction Union) will begin voting on the 19th to secure the right to strike.

On the 18th, the Ulsan Regional Labor Relations Commission decided to suspend mediation at a labor dispute mediation meeting related to wage negotiations between the Ulsan Plant Industry Council, an employer group in the plant construction industry in Ulsan, and the Ulsan Plant Construction Union.

The union and 100 companies belonging to the Ulsan Plant Industry Council negotiated a total of 10 times, starting with a meeting on May 7 and ending on the 8th, but were unable to narrow their differences.

The union is demanding an increase in daily wages of 13,000 won, but the company's proposal is an increase in daily wages of 3,000 won, and there is a wide difference in opinions between the two sides on the extent of the wage increase.

The union plans to hold a vote for or against industrial action for all union members on the 19th to secure the legal right to strike.

If the Labor Relations Commission decides to suspend mediation and a strike vote is passed, the union will meet the requirements for a legal dispute.

Meanwhile, this vote will be held along with a strike vote to demand direct negotiations with major contractors such as S-Oil and Korea Zinc.

Lee Moon-se, head of the Ulsan Plant Construction Union branch, said, “The responsibility for the breakdown of negotiations and the strike lies entirely with the Plant Industry Council and S-Oil’s main contractor. We will win the wage struggle and main contract negotiations with the overwhelming support of industrial action from all union members.”