Kia workers tentatively OK 2025 wage deal amid tariff concerns

Kia Corp. and its union have tentatively agreed on a wage deal for 2025 amid growing concerns over U.S. import tariffs, the company said Thursday. Kia's 26,000-member union accepted the company's proposals, which include a 100,000 won ($71) increase in basic monthly pay, 4 1/2 months of performance-based bonuses, 15.8 million won in cash, 200,000 won in gift certificates per worker and 53 Kia shares, the company said in a press release. Under the deal, the maker of the K5 sedan will also hire 500 engineers for its production lines by the end of next year. Kia and the union also agreed to cooperate in transforming the automaker's domestic plants into core production facilities for next-generation models, such as purpose-built vehicles, the release said. "Facing unprecedentedly high U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles, the company and the union reached the tentative deal to weather growing uncertainties and strengthen future competitiveness," a Kia official said. Kia and its union had signed wage deals without strikes for the past four years through 2024. The tentative agreement will be put toWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times