Scores of protesters arrested in Ssangyong plant clash

PYEONGTAEK, South Korea, July 26 (Yonhap) -- Scores of demonstrators were
arrested after they clashed violently with riot police in a sympathy protest for
laid-off workers of the troubled Ssangyong Motor Co., police said Sunday.
Production at Ssangyong's sole plant in this rural town has been paralyzed for
two months as nearly 1,000 unionized workers protesting a mass layoff have
occupied a paint shop and other facilities. Thousands of riot police who cordoned
off the plant have been bracing for a possible raid since last week.
Wielding metal pipes, about 7,000 members of an umbrella labor union and several
civic groups faced off with riot police Saturday as they attempted to enter the
plant to provide drinking water to the protesting Ssayngyong workers.
The water and gas supply to the plant had been cut in a move to end the Ssangyong
workers' occupation.
"About 30 demonstrators were hauled away for breaking the law. Two police
motorbikes were also damaged during the clash," police said.
More than 9,000 police were mobilized over the weekend, firing water cannons and
tear bombs at the protesters. Most of the activists disbanded voluntarily after
failing to enter the plant, police said.
In February, Ssangyong Motor received bankruptcy protection in exchange for
implementing a turnaround plan calling for 36 percent of its workforce, or 2,646
employees, to be cut.
Since then, some 1,670 workers have left the company through voluntary retirement
plans, while the remaining 976 workers have gone on strike.
On Saturday, a new round of labor-management talks failed to open due to
Ssangyong's refusal. The company said it will not come back to the bargaining
table until the strikers end their "illegal and violent behavior."
"There is nothing to talk about at the moment," said Park Young-tae, representing
Ssangyong management. "We are ready to return to the negotiation table as soon as
labor presents a new proposal."
Court-appointed managers at Ssangyong and government officials have warned that
the ailing carmaker may become insolvent if the strike continues.
Ssangyong has to submit the turnaround plan to its creditors and a bankruptcy
judge by Sept. 15. In the first six months of this year, Ssangyong's auto sales
plunged 73.9 percent from the same period last year to 13,020 units.
Ssangyong is still 51-percent owned by China's Shanghai Automotive Industry
Corp., but the Chinese parent lost management control after Ssangyong entered
bankruptcy protection.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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