Korean Delphi workers protest spinoff
A satiny yellow cloth is safety-pinned to the back of Jung duk Seo’s navy union vest. Loosely translated, the Korean words on it tout victory in collective bargaining, power to industrial unions and opposition to Delphi spinoffs.
Delphi spinoffs?
“To be more precise, we’re against a spinoff of our Delphi Steering plant as part of their bankruptcy reorganization plan,” said Do Yong Kim, vice chair of his Korean Metalworkers Union (KMWU) Delphi unit.
Since 1989 Delphi's growth in South Korea has paralleled the expansion of the Korean economy.
Korea Delphi Automotive Systems Corp. (KDAC) has seven plants in Korea, making everything from air bags to fuel injectors. According to Business Week, Delphi’s sales there climbed 33 percent last year to $1.5 billion, representing some 45 percent of its Asia-Pacific revenues.
Kim and Seo, both 20-year production workers, met with Delphi management at its Troy, Mich., headquarters during their Detroit visit.
The UAW and KMWU are working together on common strategies for Delphi workers in both countries.
KMWU represents about 2,600 KDAC members, of which 500 are “irregular” workers, namely those employed by subcontractors but still working inside the plant.
When irregular workers try to unionize, they’re fired. They earn about 60 percent less than KMWU-represented workers.
“If you look at the Delphi situation where they’ve pushed the responsibility and sacrifice onto the workers, it’s unfair, whether it’s in the U.S. or Korea,” Kim said. “We’ll continue to share strategies and practice solidarity with one another.”
Said Seo: “Whether it’s about Korea-U.S.-FTA or Delphi, international solidarity is absolutely necessary. These companies know what they’re doing and are united and on the same page. As unions, we need to strengthen our solidarity as well.”
