Unionized Workers At Hyundai Reportedly Votes For A Strike Over Wage Deals

South Korean workers at Hyundai Motor agreed to go on strike if a deal to increase the salary wasn't reached, a union spokesman revealed on Thursday.

89 percent of the 48,585 union members participated during the votation on Wednesday. Among them, 79 percent agreed on the possibility of going on strike, said spokesman Hwang Ki Tae, according to Yahoo last Wednesday.

"Technically, the union is now able to launch a strike as early as Monday next week," he stated. "However, we would like to reach a deal with management peacefully."

If the strike pushed through, this will mark the fourth year of the union's action over salary dispute. Members of the union fought for a 7.8% increase in their monthly salary and guaranteed job security for regular and irregular workers until age 65.

Also, unionized workers wanted the 30% of Hyundai Motor's net profit last year to be allocated for the workers' bonus payments, BBC noted on Thursday.

The union might tap into the National Labor Relation Commission to mediate the agreement as per the existing law. If the commission would cease to mediate, the union would find legal grounds to continue their protest, The Korea Herald reported on Thursday.

In a dispatch released by Hyundai Motor President Yoon Gap Han on Tuesday, he said that "there is nothing to be gained from a strike that ignores reality," warning that such an act may result to "customer defections."

Although majority of the union members voted to go on strike, the matter wasn't confirmed whether it will push through or not.

According to experts, the strike would worsen the status of the South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer, as the company was already facing tough markets situations in the country and overseas.