Today is the 17th day of Hyundai Motor's irregular workers (sit-in)strike!

Hyundai Motor’s contract workers have continued striking and protesting for 16 days, but they are gradually losing ground, cornered by the hostile government, the rock-ribbed Hyundai Motor and the permanent employees’ union that still hasn’t decided on its full support for their non-regular counterparts.

The latest blow comes from the local police force, Ulsan Dongbu Police Station, which requested arrest warrants for seven leaders in the contract workers’ strike including Lee Sang-soo, the temporary workers’ union leader.

The police said that Hyundai Motor sued the leaders for obstruction of work, and they have been ordered to appear at the police station. As they haven’t, the police are now seeking to arrest them.

On Tuesday, some 30 members of the contract workers’ union were taken to the police station for trying to occupy the second assembly line of the automaker, which produces the Santa Fe sport utility vehicles.

The government is yet to exercise its power to stop the strike, and there has continued tense confrontation between contract workers and Hyundai Motor’s security guards and managers with both parties claiming they have been physically assaulted.

Bahk Jae-wan, the employment and labor minister, said Monday in a meeting with journalists that the strike by contract workers is illegal and called for them to stop striking as of Monday. The Korean labor law prohibits temporary workers from going on strike to win permanent jobs.

Bahk’s remark was interpreted by the local media as an ultimatum before the government exercises its authority.

Hyundai Motor also hasn’t become any more lenient on the contract workers’ demand. The automaker’s Vice President Kang Ho-don refused Sunday to negotiate directly with non-regular workers, but said the firm will hold talks if non-regular workers stop the strike and occupation of the assembly line. He said that the talks should involve the company, the permanent employees’ union, subcontractors and the labor union of contract workers.

On Kang’s request, the non-regular workers’ union said officially Monday that it would continue occupying the plants and striking until the automaker comes up with a realistic plan to give them permanent jobs.

Contract workers’ occupation of the plant has given them some leverage in voicing their demands because it has completely stopped the production of the newly-unveiled, much anticipated Accent. Hyundai Motor says that it has so far been unable to produce about 18,700 vehicles and therefore lost 208 billion won.

Furthermore, contract workers’ relationship with the permanent employees’ union began showing some strain after the latter’s leader Lee Kyung-hoon was allegedly grabbed by the collar by a former contract worker who remains a member of the non-regular workers’ union.

The permanent employees’ union said Monday in a newsletter it is tragic that Lee was stopped when he tried to enter the sit-in site at the first assembly line to discuss solutions and supply contract workers with food. The newsletter called for contract workers to regain their countenance and for trust to come first.

On the official website of the non-regular workers’ union, several postings claimed that Lee had not been physically threatened and complained that the Lee’s union isn’t supportive enough.

The permanent employees’ union has given moral support and provided food to the isolated contract workers on strike, but hasn’t promised to go on strike along with the umbrella labor union the Korea Metal Workers’ Union (KMWU).

The KMWU declared on Nov. 22 that it would go on a nationwide strike in early December if Hyundai Motor doesn’t start negotiating with non-regular workers by the end of November.

Although the permanent employees’ union belongs to the KMWU, it decided Monday that all members will vote on whether or not they would go on strike.

In such a situation, the strike isn’t expected to end in the near future. Hyundai Motor and the contract workers have completely different views that they are unwilling to adjust...