March 28, 2024

G.M. Workers in South Korea Plan a Walkout

The partial walkout would punctuate annual wage talks that began in April. G.M.’s chief executive, Dan Akerson, and other executives have raised concerns about a further increase in labor costs partly because of wage lawsuits filed by G.M.’s South Korean workers.

But G.M.’s South Korean union has said its “cost per vehicle” is half that of Australia and lower than several other peers, including Russia.

The union was also angered by G.M.’s decision not to produce the next-generation Cruze compact in South Korea, which prompted fears about a potential restructuring of the unit.

Last week, 79 percent of union members at G.M. Korea voted in favor of striking. Union leaders decided late Wednesday to hold a partial strike for six hours July 4 and to refuse overtime and weekend work for now, said Choi Jong-hak, a union spokesman.

He said union leaders would decide whether to continue the partial strike depending on progress in the wage talks. “The management did not come up with any concrete proposal during yesterday’s talks,” he said. “It will be difficult to reach a deal, and we are likely to continue the strike.”

From July to September last year, G.M. Korea suffered its biggest strike since it was created in 2002, resulting in lost production of 40,000 vehicles.

G.M.’s South Korean unit makes more than 4 of every 10 Chevrolet-branded vehicles sold globally and supplies almost all Chevrolets sold in Europe.

It also produces vehicle kits for assembly in China and other emerging markets. The unit exports the Opel Mokka sport utility vehicle to Europe and the Chevrolet Spark minicar to the United States and other markets.

Under the annual wage talks, G.M. Korea’s union negotiators have called for a bonus equivalent to three months’ salary and a one-time payment of 6 million won, or $5,300, as well as a basic salary increase of 130,500 won.

The two sides have also locked horns over a new shift system that will eliminate overnight work at the beginning of 2014, with the union demanding that management make up for reduced wages resulting from fewer work hours.

The union is also calling for the company to produce the revamped Cruze as well as other next-generation models in South Korea and to have the unit continue to play a key role in engineering and designing G.M.’s mini- and small cars.

The spokesman for G.M. Korea, Kim Byeong-soo, said: “Wage talks are still under way. We hope to expedite negotiations to reach a deal and avoid production losses.” He added that the annual wage pact was traditionally reached by early August.

On May 28, Hyundai Motor, South Korea’s biggest automaker, and its labor union started their annual wage talks. The union is demanding a bonus equivalent to eight months’ salary and an extension of the retirement age to 61, among other things.

Article source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/business/global/gm-workers-in-south-korea-plan-a-walkout.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Media Decoder: John Geddes, Managing Editor, Is Leaving The New York Times

John M. Geddes, left, with the executive editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson, and a fellow managing editor, Dean Baquet.Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times John M. Geddes, left, with the executive editor of The New York Times, Jill Abramson, and a fellow managing editor, Dean Baquet.

2:37 p.m. | Updated John M. Geddes, a managing editor at The New York Times for the last decade and one of the top three editors at the newspaper, has decided to leave. In a note to the staff on Friday afternoon, Mr. Geddes, 61, said he was accepting a buyout package and would depart in the next few months after helping the newspaper’s masthead through its transition.

His departure comes as the company undertakes a broader restructuring in the newsroom. Like many news organizations facing a declining advertising market, The Times is trying to cut expenses; in December buyout packages were offered to nonunion staff members. It sought 30 volunteers, and said it would resort to layoffs if not enough employees opted for the buyout. It also allowed some union members to apply for buyout packages as well.

In his note, Mr. Geddes reflected on the many things he would miss about The Times, where he has worked for nearly two decades.

“After serving four executive editors, it is time for new horizons,” Mr. Geddes wrote in his announcement. He said he would “ache for the vibrations that the newsroom gives off when a crisis erupts and we scramble” and would miss “hearing about a great story (or new ways to tell one).”

Mr. Geddes joined The Times in 1994 as business editor and worked his way up the company’s editorial ranks. He currently serves as one of two managing editors, along with Dean Baquet. Before joining The Times, he spent 13 years at The Wall Street Journal working both in New York and in Europe.

Jill Abramson, the executive editor, said in a statement: “John Geddes is the consummate newsman with superb instincts for stories and people. We’ve been partners in the newsroom for nearly a decade. He has given his all to The Times for far longer than that. Most of all, I’ll miss his company.”

Here is Mr. Geddes’s memo to the staff:

A man walks out of a bar . . .

I’m moving on. I’ve arrived at that magical spot where a buyout offer miraculously appears and presents me with new opportunities. Yes, yes, I know everyone says you have to do this carefully and be armed with a plan, but I don’t have one – not yet.

Frankly, I blame this lack of personal preparedness on this place. I’ve always believed The New York Times works because it is, at heart, a collective of unique individuals bound together in pursuit of great journalism. We’re about the common goal, not about jostling one another for a place in a transitory spotlight. The mission is about us, not about me or you.

We know that our vaunted pedestal is really the achievement of those who came before us, and our chief charge is to build on their legacy. While our readers and our colleagues — you —are the ultimate jury, I’ve tried over the last 15 years on the masthead to do my best to help figure out how we marshal the resources to cover the news, develop one another’s talents and secure as firm a hold as we can on our digital future.

I’ve tried to do it with both brains and heart. You’ve deserved no less, and I’m going to miss you. I’ll ache for the vibrations that the newsroom gives off when a crisis erupts and we scramble. I’ll miss helping shape new sections, launching new apps, hearing about a great story (or new ways to tell one) and seeing you in the elevators, across the floor and at the New Faces parties at my apartment.
I got into this profession partly because I wanted a job without repetition, a chance to deal with something new each day. Geez, Louise, I got what I asked for. I’ve had fun, and even on the bad days couldn’t imagine not coming into work.

But after serving four executive editors, it is time for new horizons. Jill has asked me to delay my departure for a few months to help with the masthead transition. I’m happy to do that because it will give me time to say thanks to so many of you individually.

. . . and on his arm is a wonderful woman he met inside.
Best, John

Article source: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/john-geddes-managing-editor-is-leaving-new-york-times/?partner=rss&emc=rss