Key facts
- POSCO workers began a second partial strike on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
- The strike involves approximately 240 workers at POSCO's steel plants in Pohang and Gwangyang.
- The union is demanding a 7.1% increase in base pay and other bonuses.
- Management has proposed a 2% increase in base pay.
- The union also cited staffing shortages and aging facilities as concerns.
Unionized workers at South Korean steelmaker POSCO began a second partial strike on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, after failing to reach an agreement with management on wage increases. The 120-hour walkout, which started at 7 a.m. at POSCO's steel plants in Pohang and Gwangyang, involves approximately 240 workers, about twice the number that participated in the first strike last Wednesday. POSCO has about 17,000 employees, with around 10,100 being union members. The union is demanding a 7.1 percent increase in base pay, a performance bonus equivalent to 600 percent of base pay, 50 company shares per worker, and a holiday bonus equivalent to 200 percent of base pay. In addition to wage demands, the union has raised concerns about staffing shortages and aging facilities, which they believe could lead to safety incidents. Management's counter-proposal includes a 2 percent increase in base pay, leaving a significant gap between the two sides.