Kumho Tire union refuses to return to work

The labor union of strike-hit Kumho Tire Co. ordered its members Saturday not to return to work, raising worries that the country's No. 2 tiremaker's plant closure will last longer than expected.

Union workers at Kumho Tire had staged a one-day walkout on Friday, demanding that management engage in talks on pay raises and better working conditions.

The management responded by shutting down its two plants in Gwangju, 329 kilometers southwest of Seoul. The company said it plans to resume operations only when union members agree not to take part in further strikes.

Earlier in the day, some workers, who confirmed that they would not participate in the strikes, returned to the factories.

The labor union, however, soon asked all its members not to return to work.

"The company forced union workers to confirm that they would not take part in the strikes," said the union in a statement.

The strike at Kumho Tire has spurred concerns among investors. Shares of Kumho Tire ended at 14,400 won on the Seoul main bourse on Friday, down 1.71 percent from the previous session. (Yonhap)