Ssangyong Motor workers depart plant to avoid further clashes

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SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- Ssangyong Motor Co. employees have halted efforts to
try and enter the automaker's plant south of Seoul after earlier clashes with
striking workers there caused numerous injuries, company officials said Saturday.

About 3,000 workers of Ssangyong, the country's smallest carmaker, tried on
Friday to enter the auto assembly plant that some 900 former employees protesting
job cuts have been occupying since May 22.
About 70 people have been injured since Friday.
Ssangyong, which won bankruptcy protection from a South Korean court in February,
plans to eliminate 36 percent of its workforce as part of restructuring efforts
to stay afloat and avoid liquidation.
The automaker has lost production of 3,793 vehicles valued at about 82 billion
won (US$64 million) in sporadic strikes since April 24 until the end of May.
Losses could rise to some 200 billion won if work stoppages continue throughout
this month, according to Ssangyong.
sam@yna.co.kr
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