Small Business Owners: "No Justification for Courier Union Strike... Must Return to Work Immediately"

Sogongyeon: "Severe Damage to Small Business Owners Due to Delivery Workers' Union Strike... Negative Impact on National Economy"

Logistics are congested at CJ Logistics Yanggu Subterminal due to a courier union strike.
[Photo provided by the Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junhyung Lee] As the delivery drivers belonging to CJ Logistics, the number one courier company in market share, enter the ninth day of an indefinite strike on the 5th, small business owners have begun to push back.

The Korea Federation of Micro Enterprise Associations issued a statement on the day, saying, "The strike by the CJ Logistics delivery union, which began on the 28th of last month, has caused significant disruptions in parcel transportation," adding, "This is the second strike last year alone, lasting over a week, increasing the areas experiencing delivery delays and negatively impacting logistics transportation."

According to data obtained from the CJ Logistics Delivery Agency Association, a member of the Federation, parcel volumes are accumulating at CJ Logistics agencies nationwide, causing transportation delays. The Federation explained that this damage is being directly passed on to not only companies using courier services but also consumers. The Federation pointed out, "Many small business owners ship local specialties or fresh agricultural and marine products via courier," and "With the increase in parcel volumes, the rise in delivery delay areas is causing severe losses to companies and farmers and fishermen." They added, "Small business owners, already struggling, are being pushed into a reality where their operations are threatened by customer loss and payment disruptions."

Logistics are congested at the CJ Logistics Gyeonggi Gwangju Sub Terminal due to a courier union strike.
[Photo by Small Business Association]

The Federation emphasized that this strike is a "strike without justification." They stated, "Since the launch of the 'Social Agreement Organization for Measures Against Overwork Deaths of Delivery Workers' in 2020, which involved the government and ruling party, agreements have been reached twice last year to improve the treatment of delivery workers," and "It is planned to continue implementing these measures this year as well." They continued, "Through social agreements, the goal of improving working conditions and treatment to prevent overwork deaths among delivery workers has been achieved," and "Considering CJ Logistics offers the highest level of working environment and income compared to other courier companies, the union's mention of profit distribution makes this strike unjustifiable."

The Federation also criticized the delivery union's work-to-rule actions. They said, "The delivery union's work-to-rule has been ongoing throughout the year," and "According to the CJ Logistics Delivery Agency Association, out of 578 reported labor disputes last year, 330 cases (57%) were reported by the delivery union." The Federation argued, "Due to the nature of the courier industry, logistical disruptions in some regions inevitably spread to nationwide delivery delays," and "This strike is an issue related not only to the direct survival of CJ Logistics delivery agency owners, who are small business owners, but also to the survival foundation of all CJ Logistics delivery workers."

They urged the delivery union to return to work. The Federation stated, "If the delivery union strike, which holds small business owners and the entire nation hostage, continues, it will inevitably have a serious negative impact on the national economy," and "We urge the CJ Logistics delivery union to immediately withdraw this unjustified strike and return to normal work."