Hyundai’s overtime headache almost over

Hyundai Motor’s headache over weekend overtime work is likely come to an end after its labor union decided to resume the work, although the exact starting dates will differ by factory.

According to the nation’s largest automaker, its labor union head Moon Yong-moon and five leaders representing each factory at the Ulsan plant reached a deal yesterday to resume weekend overtime work after protracted discussions.

Hyundai said that the second, fourth and fifth factory in Ulsan will start weekend production tomorrow. The second factory produces Santa Fes, Veracruzes, i40s and Avantes (known as Elantras overseas), while the fourth factory rolls out Maxcruzes, Porters and Starexes. The fifth factory churns out premium models such as the Equus, Genesis and Genesis Coupe. The employees at these factories will work on two daytime shifts as they do on weekdays.

The bus line in the Jeonju plant and the engine and transmission factory in Ulsan went back to weekend production May 11. But the weekend production of Hyundai’s first and third factory in Ulsan and truck assembly line in the Jeonju plant are not scheduled to go back to work yet.

The nation’s largest automaker first reached agreement on April 26 to resume weekend production starting this month, but the union leaders of various lines disagreed with the agreement.

Some blamed union leaders for a bad deal. Weekend production was halted at Hyundai for the last 11 weeks, which caused 1.6 trillion won ($1.42 billion) worth of lost production.

Public opinion on the work stoppage turned negative and some union members started to complain they were losing income, so an agreement was found.

By Joo Kyung-don [kjoo@joongang.co.kr]