Hyundai, Kia unions launch more partial strikes

SEOUL, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Unionised workers at Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp on Wednesday launched another round of partial strikes over a wage deal and working conditions.

Union members at South Korea's top two auto makers said they also planned to stage partial strikes on Thursday and Friday if they fail to reach agreements with management.

Hyundai's unionised workers started a two-hour walkout on Wednesday and will halt work for four hours on Thursday and three hours on Friday if a deal is not reached, a union spokesman said.

Wednesday's labour action is expected to cost the company 1,998 vehicles in lost production, a company official said.

Unionised employees staged partial strikes for four days in July, costing 15,514 vehicles in lost output, according to the company.

Kia's union members also began a two-hour work stoppage on Wednesday and plan to hold four-hour strikes on Thursday and Friday, a company official said.

But union members at the companies usually make up production losses with overtime work once they reach wage deals.

Shares in Hyundai ended up 0.28 percent at 72,900 won and Kia gained 0.74 percent to 13,650 won, compared with a 0.25 percent gain in the wider market . (Reporting by Cheon Jong-woo; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)