Workers on Strike Told to Stop
The government has issued the first ever return-to-work order against cargo transport workers on strike. Attention is focusing on whether it will be a signal for labor reform based on the "rule of law in handling labor affairs” that President Yoon Suk-yeol has emphasized ever since taking office.
At a cabinet meeting on Nov. 29, President Yoon said, “We are in a situation where our industrial base could be devastated as construction and production sites across the country stop due to the suspension of logistics such as cement and steel. Even the daily life of the people is being threatened."
President Yoon reaffirmed the principle that illegal acts will not be tolerated, while urging the striking cargo transport workers to return to work as soon as possible. “I will firmly establish the rule of law between labor and management during my term of office,” he said, adding, “I will never compromise with illegality. We will hold the striking workers accountable for their illegal acts strictly until the end.”
President Yoon also said, “It may seem comfortable to compromise right now, but if you do, it will continue to cause other illegal strikes and disputes.” He added, “How can we educate people on the rule of law without letting them know that failure to abide by the law entails far greater pain than compliance.”
However, the workers said that they would continue with their strike and neutralize the order by litigation if necessary.
The workers, who are Korean Confederation of Trade Unions members, must return to work by Nov. 30 according to the Nov. 29 order. The first and second violations lead to 30-day license suspension and revocation, respectively. Further violation results in up to three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won or less.
According to the workers, the order is a violation of the ILO convention on forced labor abolition. They, together with the International Transport Workers' Federation, sent an intervention request letter to the ILO and the UN. The government is also considering bringing the matter to the court, there may be multiple lawsuits, and this means industrial damage will snowball as court procedures take time.
The Nov. 29 order is applied to those transporting cement in particular. The government is considering expanding it to cover the other industries including oil refining, steelmaking and automotive, where damage is accumulating.