Hyundai Motor workers to extend strikes for higher wages

Hyundai Motor's union said Friday its workers will extend partial strikes next week in a bid to secure higher wages, raising concerns about production disruptions at South Korea's largest automaker.

Hyundai workers already staged partial strikes this week, with employees on the day and night shifts each walking off the job for four hours a day from Monday through Wednesday after failing to reach a wage agreement with the company, according to the union.

The union plans to stage four-hour strikes during their respective shifts from Wednesday to next Friday, marking its third round of walkouts this year.

The two sides have held 15 rounds of wage negotiations this year but have failed to narrow their differences over pay.

The 40,000-member union is demanding a 149,600-won increase in monthly base pay and a performance-based bonus equivalent to 30 percent of the company's net profit for last year.

The maker of Sonata sedans and Palisade sport utility vehicles (SUVs) posted a net profit of 10.36 trillion won ($7.07 billion) last year.

The company, however, has offered an 80,000-won increase in ...