Ssangyong Motor Co. employees attempting to restart the company's auto assembly factory clashed with fired workers who have occupied the plant for more than a month leaving at least two people injured.
About 3,000 Ssangyong workers tried to enter the plant in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, where about 900 dismissed employees protesting job cuts have been since May 22, company spokesman Cha Ki Woong said by phone today. The condition of the hurt workers was not immediately known and more people may have been injured, Cha said.
The company today offered to extend voluntary retirement programs for the fired workers and to rehire them once business improves. Ssangyong, which won bankruptcy protection from a South Korean court in February, plans to eliminate 36 percent of its workforce to return to profit and meet a Sept. 15 court deadline to submit a restructuring plan to avoid liquidation.
The automaker has lost production of 3,793 vehicles valued at about 82 billion won ($64 million) in sporadic strikes since April 24 until the end of May. Losses could rise to 199 billion won if work stoppages continue throughout this month, according to Ssangyong estimates.
The company said on June 3 it planned take legal action against the protesting workers.
SAIC Motor Corp., China's biggest automaker, holds a 51 percent stake in Ssangyong after purchasing an initial 49 percent stake for $500 million in October 2004. The Chinese parent lost control of the automaker when it entered bankruptcy protection.
