Courier Union Resumes 'Doorstep Delivery' at Vehicle-Controlled Apartments... "Complaints via Calls and Texts Cause Mental Distress"

Some residents of A Apartment sent protest messages to delivery workers / Image provided by the National Delivery Workers' Union

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Delivery drivers have decided to resume door-to-door delivery at Apartment A in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, where ground-level road access for delivery vehicles was prohibited.

On the 16th, the National Delivery Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of Apartment A and stated, "In response to the abusive behavior of the residents' representative meeting, after conducting deliveries in front of the apartment complex, union members faced malicious texts and phone calls," adding, "The union decided to temporarily suspend deliveries in front of the apartment complex as a proactive measure to protect union members, judging that continuing deliveries there could cause significant psychological distress to them."

The delivery union, opposing the ground-level access ban at Apartment A that began on the 1st of this month, stopped door-to-door deliveries from the 14th and instead piled delivery boxes in front of the apartment complex, guiding residents to pick them up.

However, it is reported that some residents have been flooding delivery drivers with protest calls and text messages, causing the drivers to suffer mental distress.

On the afternoon of the 15th, in front of Apartment A in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, officials from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation National Courier Workers' Union, along with courier drivers from Lotte Courier and Korea Post Courier, are unloading delivery packages in front of the complex.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The delivery union explained, "We will calm the minds of our members and persuade more workers to join, leading to greater actions," and added, "Starting today, we will hold an indefinite sit-in and candlelight vigil in front of the apartment together with civic groups to draw participation from citizens who wish for 'fairness and justice'." They also urged, "Delivery companies must immediately designate the apartment as a no-delivery zone and prepare specific countermeasures."

Meanwhile, the delivery union plans to hold an emergency central executive committee meeting on the 18th and a delegates' meeting on the 25th to decide future strategies for the struggle.