Self-immolation at car plant
Jan
10
Written by:
10/01/2012 17:26
Hyundai worker sets himself on fire to protest suppression of unionised workers.
An employee of Hyundai Motor and union member, set himself on fire Sunday to protest the company's alleged suppression of unionised workers. The company's labour union had responded to the incident by threatening to suspend all engine output at the company's largest production base from today.
Mr Shin was found in flames on Sunday at a Hyundai engine plant in the southeastern city of Ulsan, South Korea, and at the time of writing was in critical condition at a nearby hospital having suffered burns on 71% of his body.
According to the union a factory manager tried to "unfairly control" Shin after he reported problems with engine quality to management, citing files found on his computer.
"Hyundai's management has not abandoned its outdated labor management policy, causing frequent conflicts with labor," the union said in a statement. It added that it would suspend engine output throughout Hyundai's complex in Ulsan and refuse overtime and weekend work from Tuesday should the company fail to accept demands including preventing the repeat of incidents of alleged suppression or excessive monitoring.
A Hyundai spokesman denied any improper conduct in the treatment of unionised workers. Employees at the plant where Shin worked already suspended production after the incident.