Unionized workers of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co., the world's third-largest shipyard, staged a four-hour strike Wednesday at its shipyard in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, for pay raises.
The union claimed most of the 7,000 union members, out of a total workforce of 26,000, have joind the strike. Company officials, however, said just hundreds took part, insisting the
strike caused no disruption on the production line.
The workers began the strike at 1 p.m., demanding an increase of 111,244 won (US$121) in basic salary and a 100 percent rise in their bonuses. The company is offering a 75,000 won pay raise and a freeze on the bonuses.
Union leaders said they will demonstrate Thursday in front of the Korea Development Bank, the shipyard's largest shareholder, in central Seoul.
"The strike caused no disruption in production because only some hundreds of union leaders and representatives are taking part, although the union called it a full-scale strike joined by all union members," a company official said.