Kia Labor Union Decides to Go on Strike

Kia Motors labor union has voted to strike on February 5 unless their demands are accepted. In response, Kia management has decided to counter with a lockout of its workers if the strike goes through.
The labor and managemnet camps have met numerous times this week but have failed to reach an agreement. The labor union representives are demanding a 300 percent pay bonus which they have not received since Kia went into receivership in 1997. In addition, they have also asked for a 9 percent raise of the basic salary level together with the family expenses allowance to be added on to tha salary level.
Moreover, labor members demanded job security for their positions at Kia until the year 2000 without any layoffs. However, managemnet is insisting that there should be no more payment since the matter on bonuses has already been concluded with both sides agreeing that bonuses were not to be granted by mutual agreement.
In the subject of raises, a source from the board of Kia said, 'It is absurd to raise the salary levels since both Hyundai and Daewoo Motors have also frozen their wage levels last year. Furthermore, issues concerning layoffs should also be determined according to unknown future situations that may arise.'