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Hyundai Motor union's talks with management on wage deal collapsed

Aug. 6, 2013 - 21:32 By 오규욱

 ULSAN-- The union of South Korea's largestcarmaker Hyundai Motor Co. said Tuesday its talks with the management over a nearly three-month-old wage deal collapsed, a move that may lead to a strike.

   Kwon Oh-il, a spokesman for the Hyundai union, said 45,000 unionized workers plan to vote on Aug. 13 on whether to go on strike, which requires majority approval from union members.

   The union demanded a hike of 130,498 won ($117) in basic salaries and an extension of the retirement age to 61, as well as other benefits.

   Kwon said no major progress has been made on the wage deal, but added that the union can resume negotiations with the management if the company changes its position.

   In April, parliament passed a bill that would raise the legal retirement age of South Korean workers to 60 beginning in 2016.

   The carmaker also called for a quick resumption of negotiations, though it expressed regret over the union's declaration of the collapse of negotiations.

   Last August, unionized workers at Hyundai Motor went on a partial strike to demand higher wages and shorter working hours.

   Hyundai Motor forms the world's fifth-largest automaker together with its smaller sister company Kia Motors Corp. (Yonhap News)