Thousands of unionized Hyundai workers began striking after negotiations with the South Korean automaker broke down over plans to deploy humanoid robots, marking the most significant organized labor pushback against robotic automation. The partial strike at Hyundai's Ulsan complex is reportedly the first factory stoppage in the car industry addressing humanoid robots, with workers ending day and night shifts early from July 13–15 and planning four-hour strikes from July 20–22 after 15 failed negotiation rounds.
The union opposition started after Hyundai Motor Group unveiled the latest version of Boston Dynamics' Atlas humanoid robot, a six-foot-tall, two-legged robot capable of lifting over 100 pounds. Boston Dynamics is set to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Hyundai.
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