SHI Workers Organize Sit-In Protest

SHI A group of workers of Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), the South Korean shipbuilder, staged a sit-in protest in Seoul today over the companys restructuring plans that include massive layoffs, Yonhap News Agency reports.  The protest was organized after a majority of the companys workers voted for a strike and launched a four-hour protest in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province last week, Yonhap said. SHIs workers are opposing the shipbuilders self-rescue plan, which calls for 1,500 early retirements by the end of the year and requires the executives to return around 30 percent of their salaries as of this July. The companys USD 1.3 billion plan could be finalized this week as its creditor the Korea Development Bank (KDB) is reportedly scheduled to conclude SHIs plan during this week. In addition, the unions of South Koreas eight shipyards are planning to stage a mass strike over the ongoing restructuring efforts, shipbuilding industry unions’ coalition was cited by Korea Herald. World Maritime News Staff