Temporary Workers at Hyundai Motor end Strike

(Yonhap) -- The temporary workers' union at Hyundai Motor said it was ending its strike on Thursday as negotiations began with company management on changing the workers' status to regular employees.

About 550 contract workers went on strike on Nov. 15, taking over Hyundai's main assembly line in Ulsan, 414 kilometers southeast of Seoul. There were a series of clashes with police who tried to break up the sit-in.

The resolution came on the 25th day of the sit-in after leaders of Hyundai's regular and contract workers' unions and the Korean Metal Workers' Union, the country's largest industrial union, met early Thursday and agreed to end the strike on the condition that negotiations begin with Hyundai Motor.

"The union representatives will establish a joint body to get our demands through to the company," a joint statement released by the three unions said. "We urge the company to engage in practical negotiation."

The striking workers left the plant as soon as the union leaders started talks with the management at around 3 p.m. Sixteen of them who were put on police wanted lists for leading the strike are still at the plant.

The labor dispute began when the irregular workers, hired by a Hyundai Motor subcontractor, demanded the automaker abide by a Supreme Court ruling in July that contract employees who have worked for more than two years should be considered as permanent workers. The case was remanded to the high court where the it is under further review.

According to the company, the strike has caused more than 300.3 billion won in production losses as of Wednesday. Hyundai Motor has filed suits against a total of 419 workers who participated in the walkout, seeking 16.2 billion won for financial damage.

Hyundai Motor and its affiliate Kia Motors control more than 70 percent of the domestic auto market.

The temporary workers' union at Hyundai Motor leaves an Ulsan factory on Dec. 9 as negotiations begin with company management on changing the workers' status to regular employees.