Catherwood LibraryILR School

After massive restructuring of the shipbuilding industry, the top shipbuilding companies in South Korea are experiencing major conflicts between labor and management. The “Big Three” Korean shipbuilding companies (Hyundai Heavy Industries, Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, and Samsung Heavy Industries) have all undergone management changes which have led to unstable employment for workers as employers have threatened to reduce their workforces by up to 40% with there already having been nearly 2,000 resignations in Hyundai Heavy Industries alone. While various sources advise the labor unions of Korea’s largest shipbuilders against striking, many workers feel that they have no voice as these major changes take place, leaving them insecure with their employment and unsure of what other options they have.