Kia workers in South Korea have overwhelmingly backed a potential strike, pushing for better pay and work-life perks. In a quick vote on Thursday, 79.5% of union members at the major automaker said yes to the plan, with nearly 87% of the group’s 25,798 total members casting ballots.
The union wants a boost in base salaries and performance bonuses, plus raising the retirement age to 64 and rolling out a four-day workweek. This vote gives them the green light to walk out if talks at the National Labor Relations Commission hit a dead end.
Union leaders plan to form a committee on Monday to decide on next moves if negotiations stall. In a statement, they highlighted the strong support as a sign of members’ frustration and solidarity. “We’re ready to wrap up talks anytime if management offers a fair deal that our people can get behind,” the union added.
It’s worth noting that Kia has avoided strikes in wage talks from 2020 through last year, keeping things smooth between workers and bosses.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s auto industry is humming along despite challenges. Car exports jumped 8.6% year-over-year in August, hitting a record $5.5 billion for the month, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Strong demand for electric vehicles in Europe helped offset U.S. tariffs.
In volume, shipments rose 5.5% to 200,317 vehicles. From January to August, total auto exports reached a whopping $47.7 billion, the highest ever for that period.
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