CJ Courier Union Demands Suspension of Deliveries to Lotte and Hanjin

Over 2,000 People March to Seoul for Protest on the 18th

Officials from the National Courier Workers' Union are holding a final hunger strike declaration and a 4th general strike resolution rally on the 6th in front of the CJ Group headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, demanding fair distribution of increased courier fees and recognition of the union. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The CJ Logistics branch of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions' National Delivery Workers' Union (Delivery Union), which has been on a general strike for three weeks, has expanded the strike front by demanding suspension of parcel acceptance from other delivery unions such as Lotte and Hanjin Delivery ahead of the peak delivery season during the Lunar New Year holiday.

According to the delivery industry on the 18th, about 2,000 union members of the CJ Logistics Delivery Union gathered in Seoul in the afternoon to carry out protests. The union announced plans to protest in front of the residence of CJ Group Chairman Lee Jae-hyun and intends to conduct a "Delivery Stop for Survival," demanding suspension of parcel acceptance from some other delivery companies in the Gyeonggi and Yeongnam regions during the Lunar New Year peak period.

The National Delivery Workers' Union Post Office Headquarters also demanded the government resolve issues related to the non-implementation of social agreements. They cited that individual sorting has not been properly carried out as agreed socially, forcing delivery workers to continue sorting tasks. Although the Post Office union members do not have the right to strike, they have pressured the Korea Post by limiting the minimum daily delivery volume to 190 parcels per person.

More than 100 delivery workers affiliated with Hanjin and Lotte Delivery in the Ulsan area also announced their participation in the strike starting from this day, with plans to expand the strike front to areas such as Gyeonggi Province and gradually escalate actions including refusal of delivery and pickup.

As the CJ Delivery Union strike showed signs of spreading to other delivery companies, the delivery industry sounded an alarm to minimize consumer damage ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. CJ Logistics issued a statement on the day saying, "We will stop the unjustified strike and strive to normalize parcel delivery, while supporting the dealership association and the union to have smooth dialogue." This is seen as a step back from their previous hardline stance of no dialogue, presenting an exit strategy to the CJ Delivery Union.

Hanjin Delivery began adjusting client shipment volumes mainly in some areas of Gyeonggi Province to prevent delivery disruptions. The plan is to flexibly control client parcel pickup volumes to match the daily delivery capacity. However, this may cause delays in parcel pickup for consumers at some dealerships. The company stated, "We are doing our best, including dispatching headquarters delivery personnel, to minimize customer inconvenience."

A delivery industry official expressed concern, saying, "The strike that started with the CJ Delivery Union is spreading to other delivery unions ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. If the Lunar New Year volume pours in, there is a growing possibility that a nationwide delivery crisis could materialize in some regions."