[THE INVESTOR] Unionized workers at Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, one of the country‘s top shipyards, voted Tuesday in favor of a strike at the debt-ridden company’s restructuring plan. 

In a vote asking 6,980 unionists whether to go on strike, 85 percent, 6,127 out of 5,207 who cast ballots, voted yes, according to the labor union.

Unionists also demanded DSME to include them when the company holds talks with creditors over rehabilitation schemes.

“The result shows that the workers are in consensus that the self-rescue plan announced by the company and creditors is causing employment uncertainty and delaying a normalization of business,” said the union in a statement.

But it said it would not stage a walkout right away.

The move comes a day after creditors of the shipbuilder warned that they will stop providing financial aid if they go on strike.

Daewoo Shipbuilding is currently under investigation on corruption allegations including the chief executive’s embezzlement. In 2015, the shipyard posted a $4 billion loss.

By Park Han-na (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)