REPORT: Pipe and firebomb-wielding strikers injure 70 at Ssangyong plant; 4,000 flee
After slipping into receivership this past January, Ssangyong Motor Company's problems have only escalated. A court-ordered restructuring of the Korean automaker earlier this year left 976 employees without work. The displaced workers organized an armed sit-in on the Korean automaker on May 21 that has now turned violent.According to Ward's Auto, Roughly 4,000 non-union workers and management had been back in the company's Pyongtaek, South Korea, SUV plant attempting to get the assembly line back into operation. After less than 36 hours in the facility, more than 900 pipe and firebomb-wielding strikers surrounded the area and demanded they vacate under increasing threats. As the workers left, they were attacked by striking union workers poised outside (many noted that the national police service had withdrawn their riot squad on Saturday night leaving the 4,000 employees unprotected). All told, more than 70 non-union workers were badly hurt and many of those were hospitalized.
Although the company has offered jobs with affiliated companies, or promised future work to dismissed employees, the union immediately rejected the offer and has demanded to negotiate directly with the Korean government. The future doesn't look good. With no plans for the non-union employees to return and a viable restructuring plan unlikely, the Korean courts are scheduled to make a ruling by Sept. 15 whether to allow Ssangyong Motor Co. to keep operating or to liquidate its assets.
[Source: Ward's Auto]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KC 8:06AM (6/30/2009)
From the looks of Ssangyong products, they should strike forever.
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ntcougar7 8:29AM (6/30/2009)
thats what you get for doing ugly SUVs...
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FThorn 8:47AM (6/30/2009)
kind of reminds me of the plant I worked at briefly. The state declared martial law on our town due to strikers.
This was before I worked there, but hardly anyone thinks martial law happens much in the USA.
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Alex 9:05AM (6/30/2009)
Wait... 4000 non-union workers vs. 900 union workers and the non-unoin guys lost?! What is this, Sparta?
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hans 9:18AM (6/30/2009)
well i doubt the non union workers expected the union ones to come armed with pipe bombs.
that is some preparedness. can you imagine the GM union workers with pipe bombs.
hypermiler 10:42AM (6/30/2009)
@ Alex
> 4000 non-union workers vs. 900 union workers and the non-unoin guys lost?! What is this, Sparta?
4,000 non-union workers are managers, engineers, marketers, assemblers that avoided the cut vs 900 laid-off union assemblers.
Korean militant labor unions operate with marine precision....
Anyhow, Ssangyong's a goner, the Korean government wants it that way to make an example of to militant labor unions, the government sees it as a chance to break the union.
revaholic 9:16AM (6/30/2009)
BURN THE FACTORIES DOWN.
No empathy for Ssangyong whatsoever.
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jay tee 9:41AM (6/30/2009)
And the cost of producing cars (and goods) in Asia begins to rise....
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Rick 9:59AM (6/30/2009)
I hope those non-union workers have workers comp to covery the ass-beating they endured.
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Protzenegger 10:12AM (6/30/2009)
Once again, the douchebaggery of unions rears its ugly head.
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doug delano 10:18AM (6/30/2009)
Lovely people these union members, kind of reminds one of the union violence that took place in this country in the 20's or so. At the time, it most likely was something that needed to be done, but with the "global competition" we hear so much about from our "leaders", this looks counter-productive and these members will, regardless of their violent behavior, be out of a job .
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Swede 11:08AM (6/30/2009)
So? They're blackfoots.
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jgp 11:57AM (6/30/2009)
I hope the police raid the plant and kill all the strikers on sight.
KILL THE UNIONS! LITERALLY!
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crilent 2:34AM (7/01/2009)
When korean can not produce the cheapest autos, they fight.
I was always wonder why Ssangyong can last so long by so ugly autos.
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