German multinational Allianz breaches collective agreement: workers strike for more than 200 days

850 members of Allianz Life Korea, (a German Multinational Insurance Company) went on strike on 22 February to protest against management’s unilateral implementation of a new performance-based pay system, in breach of the company’s 2006 collective bargaining agreement. The number of striking workers since rose to about 1,000.
In March 2008, four members of the Allianz Life Korea Union’s (ALKU), affiliated to the Korean Federation of Clerical and Financial Labour Unions (KFCLU) travelled to Munich, Germany to request intervention from the company’s top management. Despite mediation from German unions, the German company headquarters refused to meet them, and deflected responsibility back onto Allianz Korea.
Allianz has escalated the conflict, dismissing strikers and locking-out workers from Allianz premises. The President of the union and a further colleague were arrested for hindering Allianz’ business activities. 87 sales managers have been dismissed for their involvement in the strike.
The dispute has still not been resolved after more than 200 days of strike – even though the Seoul Southern District Local Court ruled that Allianz Korea was indeed in breach of the collective agreement. The Court also ruled that the sales managers who were dismissed by Allianz for their participation in the strike, had the right to join a union irrespective of the fact that they were excluded from the collective agreement.                                          
Source: Uni Global Union, 25 May 2008

Truck Drivers Strike

Some 13,000 unionized trucker drivers went on a nationwide strike on 16 June 2008 over rising fuel prices, and demanded that the government increase fuel subsidies and ensure a minimum wages for all drivers.
Exports worth US$2.3bn and US$2.4bn of imports have been delayed during the last four days, the government said.
Sources: CNN.com, 19 June 2008, FT.com 16 June 2008