HD Hyundai Heavy Starts Wage Talks in Shipbuilding News 05/06/2026 Labor and management at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries have sat down at the bargaining table to reach this year’s wage and collective agreement amid a recovery trend in the shipbuilding industry. The latest negotiations are expected to see intense back-and-forth between the two sides over the scale of practical wage increases and the share of performance-based compensation. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries held the “2026 wage and collective bargaining introductory meeting” at its Ulsan headquarters on June 2, with bargaining committee members from both labor and management in attendance, including President Geum Seok-ho and Kim Dong-ha, head of the Hyundai Heavy Industries branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union. After introducing the bargaining representatives, the two sides reached agreement on the future schedule and operational plans. Labor and management plan to continue regular meetings twice a week starting with their first round of negotiations on June 9. Geum Seok-ho, president of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, emphasized the importance of labor-management cooperation in responding to changes in the internal and external business environment and proposed achieving shared goals through constructive dialogue. The union said it would avoid wasteful confrontation while making clear its determination to secure tangible job stability and improved treatment for workers. Kim Dong-ha, branch chief, stressed that the negotiations should properly set the direction for securing jobs at worksites and ensuring employment stability. Earlier, the Hyundai Heavy Industries branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union stepped up pressure by delivering a detailed list of demands to the company. Its key demands included a basic monthly wage increase of ₩149,600 ($108) excluding regular step increases, and a 100% increase in bonuses. In particular, the union proposed a bold condition calling for at least 30% of operating pr