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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Seoul, September 10 – Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has successfully wrapped up its 2025 wage negotiations, following Hanwha Ocean’s earlier agreement, while rival HD Hyundai shipbuilding units are escalating labor actions.
According to industry sources, the SHI Workers’ Council voted on the tentative 2025 wage agreement with 50.5% in favor, thereby concluding negotiations. The finalized terms include:
An average base salary increase of KRW 133,196,
A labor-management harmony bonus of KRW 5 million,
An increase in welfare points to KRW 1 million (up KRW 100,000).
The vote saw participation from approximately 3,700 council members.
This marks the second major shipbuilder to conclude wage talks without conflict in 2025, after Hanwha Ocean reached an agreement earlier this year that included a base salary increase of KRW 123,262 (including KRW 23,262 from seniority increments) and a lump-sum payment of KRW 5.2 million.
In contrast, unions at HD Hyundai’s shipbuilding affiliates—HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Mipo Dockyard, and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries—staged strikes on September 10 to increase pressure on management.
The HD Hyundai Heavy Industries union criticized management’s “lukewarm stance” in the 23rd round of negotiations, demanding fairer distribution of performance-based pay and base salary hikes. Talks have stalled since union members rejected a proposed KRW 133,000 base salary increase (including KRW 35,000 for seniority) in July.
Labor tensions intensified as Baek Ho-seon, head of the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries union branch, began a high-altitude protest atop a 40-meter turnover crane inside the Ulsan shipyard at 9:45 a.m. the same day. The union plans to continue seven-hour daily strikes through September 12 and has called for a large-scale rally and general strike by unions from 11 HD Hyundai affiliates in Seoul on that date.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
