Workers in Yura assaulted by management – urgent press release

Leskovac, 27th September 2024

The Yura Leskovac Autonomous Trade Union of Metalworkers informs the public that on Friday, September 27, a serious incident took place at the Leskovac factory, where Korean manager Kang physically assaulted three Yura workers during the first shift. The victims were female colleagues working in preparation roles, assigned to seated positions due to the physical demands of the job and serious medical issues they developed while working at Yura. Kang initially verbally assaulted the women, then kicked the crates and their chairs, before throwing a chair at one of them. The attack was witnessed by numerous workers, and union representatives called the police, who conducted an investigation at the scene. One worker sustained minor injuries during Kang’s attack, while another lost consciousness. Two workers received emergency medical treatment at Leskovac Hospital. To our knowledge, following the incident, the female workers were threatened with dismissal.

The Yura Leskovac Autonomous Trade Union of Metalworkers holds the company responsible for the incident, as it stems from a business model that shows contempt and disrespect for its workers. The union consistently raises concerns about both physical and verbal violence when advocating for higher wages and a revised bonus policy. These issues are interconnected, stemming from a culture of violence and worker exploitation fostered by Yura’s management. This is particularly evident in the pressure exerted on workers to dismantle the union and refrain from participating in union activities, an issue the union has previously brought to the attention of the public and the company’s clients.

We would like to highlight that, for the past month, workers have been blocked from accessing the HR department with their ID cards, which is a critical step in safeguarding against workplace discrimination.

The Yura Leskovac Autonomous Trade Union of Metalworkers will fully support the affected female colleagues, including union members, in exercising their rights to legal protection and compensation. We intend to file a criminal complaint against Korean manager Kang.

Today, we sent a letter to the company outlining our demands: that manager Kang be immediately banned from entering the factory, that a zero-tolerance policy be implemented for physical and verbal violence by managers and supervisors towards workers, that all workers be granted immediate access to the HR department, and that management meet urgently with union representatives to revise the current workplace harassment regulations and introduce clear procedures for workers and the union to protect themselves from violence.

The Yura Leskovac Autonomous Trade Union of Metalworkers will employ all forms of union action and pressure if Yura’s management continues to disregard our demands.

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