Korean GM Workers Break Three Shift Strategy

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt
GM Korea reached a tentative wage agreement with its union, Reuters says. Workers receive a little more money, and a major concession that could have far-reaching consequences for GM’s recovery if it sets a precedence in the rest of GM’s world.The union is expected to put the deal to a union vote on Thursday or Friday. Workers will receive 80,564 Korean won ($71.23) as an increase in base salary, a bonus of 5 million won ($4,423) and a one-off payment of 3 million won ($2,654). Most importantly, workers have received a concession on their most pressing demand: An end of the three-shift work week. Workers had voted for a strike if round-the-clock work continues.Under the deal, a new shift scheme in will be tested in the first quarter of 2013. Closing weak factories and running the remaining strong ones flat out three shifts per day to maximize returns appears to be one of the cores of GM’s restructuring plan. Privately, executives at other carmakers warn against this strategy. “If you work round the clock, you end up with unhappy workers, sinking quality, and no time to make repairs,” an executive at a European carmaker said. “Then the unhappy want more money, and if you give them more, they will still be unhappy.”
Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
8 of 26 comments
  • Juniper Juniper on Aug 14, 2012

    I call BS. I grew up in a 3 shift town. A Union one. Everyone did fine, and made money. Even the nearby cafes and bars ran 24/7. Best productivity. Best utilization of Capital. They shutdown twice a year for major maintenance. Look around ,Hospitals, Powerplants Police and Fire, most mills and continuous processes. Lots of people run around the clock. These guys just became less competitive in the world.

  • Ex Radio Operator Ex Radio Operator on Aug 14, 2012

    24/7 chemical plants have 4 shifts of employees.

    • Icemilkcoffee Icemilkcoffee on Aug 14, 2012

      I've worked in the semiconductor world for the last 15 years. We also use 4 shifts to cover 24/7.

  • Rnc Rnc on Aug 14, 2012

    A lot of people love third shift living. GF in college, graduated BS in accounting, kept working at outback as waitress. Masters in accounting, kept working as waitress at outback, she just loved the vampire lifestyle (work till 12, go out to bars until 4, rinse and repeat). That's why she finally had to go, I had a regular job and finally didn't want to be woken up at 3-4:30 to screw when I had to get up at 6 to get ready for work and wasn't drunk and coked up as she was. She's 38 now, looks about 50.

    • MeaCulpa MeaCulpa on Aug 15, 2012

      NOT wanting to be waked up for sex with a coked up girl has to be the worst explanation for braking up in the history of man kind. Looking like 50 when 36 has to be one of the better reasons thou. I'll give you a pass this time.

  • Mcs Mcs on Aug 14, 2012

    Canon Camera has found a solution for labor issues. No problems for them after 2015. No strikes, no labor negotiations, no pension plans, no contracts... http://goo.gl/NIXQE

    • See 1 previous
    • Tresmonos Tresmonos on Aug 15, 2012

      lulz someone needs to maintain the robots. someone needs to monitor faults caused by non-conforming material. someone needs to program the robots. someone neeeds to change tooling.

Next