Gwangju Global Motors union ends seven-month protest, enters focused negotiations

The labor union at Gwangju Global Motors (GGM) has ended its seven-month tent protest outside Gwangju City Hall, marking a significant shift in its labor dispute. The union, part of the Korean Metal Workers' Union Gwangju-Jeonnam branch, initiated the sit-in in November last year, protesting alleged union suppression by the company and inaction by its largest shareholder, Gwangju City.

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We are dismantling the tents based on the agreement to secure negotiation office space and conduct intensive negotiations three days a week until the end of July.

The decision to dismantle the tents comes after mediation efforts led by Min Hyung-bae, the newly elected mayor of the integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju region, and the city's transition planning committee. The union expressed trust in the mediation process and agreed to focus on labor-management negotiations until the end of July.

As part of the agreement, GGM will provide paid leave for four union negotiators for three days a week and offer office space for negotiation preparations. GGM, which manufactures Hyundai's Casper mini-car, has been embroiled in labor conflicts stemming from low wages and poor working conditions. The union highlighted that over 250 young workers have already left the company due to these issues.

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Although some may point out that the agreement lacks sufficient grounds, we want to believe once more in the greater cause of 'coexistence and trust.'

Kim Jin-tae, head of the GGM branch of the Metal Workers' Union, acknowledged that the agreement might seem to lack strong leverage but expressed hope in the principle of "coexistence and trust." He stated the union's commitment to the agreement, which includes securing negotiation office space and conducting intensive negotiations for three days a week until the end of July.

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We are grateful to labor and management for responding to the mediation to conduct negotiations based on trust, even if it may not be fully satisfactory.

The Gwangju-type job initiative, under which GGM was established, promised social benefits like housing and childcare in exchange for lower initial wages. GGM's largest shareholder is Gwangju City with a 21% stake, followed by Hyundai Motor Company with 19%. The labor dispute intensified after the GGM union was formed in July 2024, as the company cited a clause in a labor agreement that required decisions to be made by a labor-management council until 350,000 units were produced, refusing to negotiate with the union.

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Gwangju-type jobs must succeed. We ask that Gwangju City fulfill its unkept promises by establishing plans and that Hyundai Motor Company help grow the company by sending new models and production volumes.