POSCO Workers Stage Second Partial Strike Over Wage Demands

On September 16, 2026, unionized workers at POSCO, a leading South Korean steelmaker, began their second partial strike after negotiations over wage increases stalled.

The strike, which commenced at 7 a.m. at POSCO's facilities in Pohang and Gwangyang, is set to last for 120 hours. Union spokesperson Yi Jae-hyuk stated, "We will call off the strike before the end of the five-day walkout if the company comes up with an acceptable proposal."

Approximately 10,100 of POSCO's 17,000 employees are union members, and this strike follows a previous 48-hour walkout that marked the first labor action in the company's history since its establishment in 1968.

The union is demanding a 7.1% increase in base pay, a performance bonus of 600% of the base salary, and additional benefits, while management has only offered a 2% increase. The union has raised concerns about staffing shortages and aging equipment, which could compromise safety.

Despite the increased participation in this strike, POSCO management claims that plant operations will not be significantly disrupted, with only about 60 workers from each plant expected to join the strike.