Hyundai, Kia unions to stage 8-hour strikes

[July 12, 2012]  SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Unionized workers at Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp. have voted to hold their first strikes in more than three years, demanding higher wages and fewer working hours.

Labor unions at Hyundai and Kia say all of their factories in South Korea will come to a full stoppage for eight hours on Friday. The unions have not announced their walkout plans after this weekend.

Hyundai says the walkout will be the first since a 2008 strike during wage negotiations ended in seven days. Kia's labor union has been strike-free since 2009.

A spokesman at Hyundai said Thursday that the stoppage was expected to hamper production of 4,300 vehicles worth 88 billion won ($76 million).

[Associated Press]

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