Hyundai, KIA workers strike over wages, job security, and retirement age

Hyundai and KIA employees in South Korea have walked off assembly lines in their first full-scale strike in a decade, joining forces with workers from supplier companies. The action highlights demands for better wages, increased job security, and a higher mandatory retirement age, currently set at 60.

Approximately 40,000 Hyundai union members participated in the one-day strike, with some protesting outside the company's headquarters. A key concern driving the strike is the potential impact of automation and artificial intelligence on employment. Workers are anxious about job displacement as the company plans to introduce robots from Boston Dynamics into its factories by 2028.

The union emphasized that the strike is about safeguarding the foundation of South Korea's automotive industry and preserving the dignity of its workforce. This action is the latest in a series of labor disruptions that began in July, which have already affected the production of an estimated 55,200 vehicles, valued at over $1.67 billion.

Concerns about automation are amplified by Hyundai's plans to deploy Atlas robots at its Metaplant America within two years for component sorting. The company anticipates these robots will eventually be capable of component assembly by 2030, raising fears of significant human worker replacement aimed at cutting costs and boosting productivity.

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This strike is about protecting the roots of Korea's automotive industry and upholding the dignity of the workforce.