Labor Proposal Tipped Scales for Hyundai Alabama Plant Chosun Ilbo (South Korea's most conservative newspaper) April 22
Hyundai Motor was found to have chosen Alabama as the site for its first production plant in the United States after the state government made a guarantee that there would be no labor union in the plant.
An executive at the largest Korean automaker said Sunday that his company had been leaning toward a site in Kentucky up until a week prior to the final selection, as the state provided easier access to component markets and boasted cooler temperatures.
He said that the top management of Hyundai, however, ended up going with Alabama as the state government's proposal of preventing the formation of a labor union at the plant was too good an offer to pass up.
According to an official of the Alabama government, the state did not opt for the union shop system for its corporate labor sector and, as such, labor activities are mild in the state. In Kentucky, however, union shops are permitted.
(Kim Jong-ho, tellme at chosun.com)