On the Dash:
- Hyundai Motor’s union launched a second round of partial strikes, extending daily walkouts to four hours per shift.
- Industry estimates put combined production losses at roughly 15,000 vehicles and 650 billion won ($439 million) in lost revenue.
- The union’s push for guarantees over Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robots signals growing tension between automakers and labor as factory automation expands.
Hyundai Motor‘s union launched a second round of partial strikes Monday, extending daily work stoppages to four hours per shift through Wednesday. This strike doubles the previous two-hour strikes the union held last week after 15 rounds of talks failed to produce an agreement.
Members of the Hyundai Motor branch of the Korea Metal Workers’ Union said they escalated the action because Hyundai neither presented a revised offer nor formally requested that negotiations resume. The union said it will suspend the strikes if formal bargaining resumes.
Industry estimates suggest the two rounds of strikes could reduce production by about 15,000 vehicles and cost roughly 650 billion won ($439 million) in lost revenue if the union carries out the action as planned. Analysts based those estimates on last year’s partial strike, which disrupted production of about 7,000 vehicles and cost the company more than 300 billion won in sales.
Union members are also refusing weekday overtime and weekend work, adding further pressure on production beyond the scheduled walkouts.
Union seeks higher pay & job protections
Hyundai presented its third offer during a last-ditch round of negotiations, proposing an 89,000-won monthly base pay increase, a bonus equal to 350% of monthly base pay, 10 million won ($6,750) in cash and 15 Hyundai Motor shares for each employee. However, the union rejected the offer, saying it fell short of workers’ expectations.
Meanwhile, the union is seeking a 149,600-won monthly base pay increase, excluding regular seniority-based raises, along with a performance bonus equal to 30% of Hyundai’s 2025 net profit. Workers also want guarantees that management will consult the union before deploying Boston Dynamics’ Atlas humanoid robots at Hyundai’s production facilities.
Nevertheless, Hyundai and union leaders continue informal discussions in hopes of reaching a settlement despite the strikes. The union plans to review the state of negotiations Thursday before deciding whether to extend or escalate its labor campaign.
