Truckers’ Strike
The Korean Cargo Transport Workers' Union affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is planning on an indefinite general strike starting from October 10. With another strike already going on in the railway industry, conditions in the logistics industry are predicted to get even worse.
The Korean Cargo Transport Workers' Union held a press conference in Seoul in the morning of October 5, saying that it would go on strike on October 10 in opposition to the South Korean government’s plan for cargo transport sector development released on August 30.
According to the plan, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure & Transport is going to stop controlling the number of small cargo trucks in operation with a capacity of 1.5 tons or less and prevent unilateral contract cancellation in order to protect truckers in contract with transportation companies. Members of the union are claiming that the lack of control of the number will result in more trucks in large corporations in the industry, less jobs for each of them and more severe competition among them.
In the meantime, the ministry organized an emergency committee on October 5 in order to cope with the upcoming walkout. It is planning to mobilize 100 vehicles from the army and give permission to privately-owned container trucks once the walkout actually occurs on October 10. “Those participating in the strike will be given no fuel subsidy for six months and those hampering cargo transport will be deprived of their driver’s and truck licenses,” it said.