General Motors' (GM) Korea research and development organization, GM Technical Center Korea (GMTCK), is set to initiate a partial strike. The strike by the research team responsible for new vehicle development raises concerns about potential impacts on ongoing domestic production programs.
According to industry sources, the GMTCK union held a strategy meeting on September 11 and decided to proceed with a partial strike on September 15. The strike will involve all union members participating for four hours, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The GMTCK union applied for dispute mediation with the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission on August 20 and subsequently voted in favor of the strike with an 83% approval rate during a member referendum held on August 27. Following a decision by the commission to cease mediation, the union secured the legal right to strike.
The primary demand is to address the wage disparity with Korea GM, which recently concluded its wage and collective bargaining agreement. The union asserts, "We demand wages equivalent to those offered by Korea GM," emphasizing the need for appropriate compensation for research and development personnel. The two sides remain at an impasse, with Korea GM proposing a 5% increase in base salary, while GMTCK has suggested a 2.71% increase.
Previously, the production-focused Korea GM union finalized its wage negotiations for the year, agreeing to a base salary increase of 92,000 won, along with bonuses and performance incentives totaling approximately 15 million won. In contrast, wage negotiations for GMTCK, the research and development entity, have yet to reach a consensus.
The partial strike by research and development personnel is expected to affect the ongoing development of the next-generation vehicle program, known as '9BXX-2.' This vehicle, a small sports utility vehicle (SUV) similar to the current Trailblazer, began full-scale development in April. The goal is to allocate production for the vehicle in the third quarter of next year, with mass production anticipated around 2030.
Industry observers warn that prolonged labor disputes could disrupt research and development schedules, potentially impacting future domestic production volumes.
One industry insider noted, "Research personnel do not cause immediate production disruptions compared to assembly line workers, which often relegates their compensation discussions to a lower priority. However, as the role of research and development staff becomes increasingly critical, discussions regarding appropriate compensation are necessary."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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