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S Korea factory occupation ends | S Korea factory occupation ends |
(about 14 hours later) | |
A 77-day occupation of a car plant by hundreds of laid-off workers in South Korea has come to an end, a company manager has told the BBC. | |
A deal was struck between the union and car maker Ssangyong to keep about half of the workers staging the occupation on the firm's staff, reports have said. | A deal was struck between the union and car maker Ssangyong to keep about half of the workers staging the occupation on the firm's staff, reports have said. |
Nearly 100 people were injured in clashes as police tried to evict about 500 workers from the plant. | Nearly 100 people were injured in clashes as police tried to evict about 500 workers from the plant. |
The struggling firm wanted to cut about 2,600 workers, 36% of its total staff. | The struggling firm wanted to cut about 2,600 workers, 36% of its total staff. |
Firebombs | Firebombs |
More than 1,600 workers agreed to take voluntary redundancy, but the remaining 1,000 objected, with many barricading themselves into Ssangyong's main factory at Pyeongtaek, 70km (43 miles) south of Seoul. | More than 1,600 workers agreed to take voluntary redundancy, but the remaining 1,000 objected, with many barricading themselves into Ssangyong's main factory at Pyeongtaek, 70km (43 miles) south of Seoul. |
After talks between the union and management broke down on Sunday, police commandos fought pitched battles with the workers and sprayed tear gas from helicopters, trying to evict the workers. | After talks between the union and management broke down on Sunday, police commandos fought pitched battles with the workers and sprayed tear gas from helicopters, trying to evict the workers. |
The workers defended their position using giant home-made catapults and firebombs. | The workers defended their position using giant home-made catapults and firebombs. |
At one point a team of commandos were dropped onto the roof of the occupied building to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the strikers. | At one point a team of commandos were dropped onto the roof of the occupied building to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the strikers. |
Details of the agreement to end the occupation remain unclear, but what is certain is that it has taken a toll on the small South Korean car maker, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Pyeongtaek. | Details of the agreement to end the occupation remain unclear, but what is certain is that it has taken a toll on the small South Korean car maker, says the BBC's John Sudworth in Pyeongtaek. |
The dispute started when the cash-strapped company, already in court receivership, announced major layoffs in a bid to restructure. | The dispute started when the cash-strapped company, already in court receivership, announced major layoffs in a bid to restructure. |
Now that an agreement has been reached, the factory has been inspected. The management says there is remarkably little damage and can begin operating again soon. | Now that an agreement has been reached, the factory has been inspected. The management says there is remarkably little damage and can begin operating again soon. |