From Tire Review

A lack of rubber, not a job action by union workers, has reportedly shut down Kumho Tires' plant in Gwangju, South Korea.

The JoongAng Daily said the plant has stood idle “since last week” after the plant ran out of rubber stock. The tiremaker has tried to secure additional rubber, and turned to creditors for emergency funding.

“Emergency funding from the company’s creditor, which had been promised earlier, is being delayed due to conflicts with Kumho Tire’s labor union,” the newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, Kumho production workers are still planning to go out on strike as of April 1, “if management fails to narrow its differences with the group by the end of this month,” the newspaper reported. The union is concerned about planned job cuts at the plant and the company’s debt restructuring plans.