Workers from subcontractors at SK Hynix’s Cheongju facility are demanding equal treatment with direct-hire employees who received bonuses worth several hundred million KRW (approximately $150,000–$675,000) and are calling for direct bargaining with the prime contractor. On April 30, about 30 members of the Metalworkers’ Union, including the P&ES Logistics branch, held a press conference in front of SK Hynix’s Plant 3 in Cheongju. They said “countless subcontracted workers inside SK Hynix face discrimination and contempt” and urged the company to stop discriminatory bonus payments to subcontractors. P&ES Logistics transports products made at SK Hynix to facilities such as the Icheon plant in Gyeonggi Province.
The union noted that SK Hynix, which posted record operating profits last year and again in the first quarter of this year, paid direct employees annual compensation and bonuses totaling several hundred million KRW, while subcontracted workers were given cooperative incentive payments of about 5–6 million KRW (approximately $3,750–$4,500).
“Even though subcontracted workers helped produce these outstanding results, the company still treats them like disposable parts,” the union said, urging Hynix not to ignore their pleas and to guarantee their right to a living wage.
After the press conference, the union submitted a request to enter negotiations with Hynix. It said it will file a remedial application with the regional labor relations commission if the prime contractor refuses to negotiate.
