4th Week of Strike by CJ Logistics Union... Turning Point for Delivery Crisis During Lunar New Year Holiday

The National Courier Workers' Union Post Office Headquarters held a "Resolution Rally to Enter an Indefinite Hunger Strike: The Blue House Must Take Responsibility for the Non-Implementation of Social Agreement!" near the Blue House in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 17th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] As the CJ Logistics delivery workers' union strike enters its fourth week, the damage is increasing not only to consumers but also to sellers such as shopping malls. With the Lunar New Year holiday just a week away, concerns are rising that the strike, which began with the CJ Logistics union, spreading to other delivery companies like Hanjin and Lotte, will further expand the scale of damage nationwide.

According to the industry on the 23rd, the National Non-Union Delivery Workers' Association plans to hold a rally opposing the delivery workers' union strike in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido this afternoon. They explained, "We oppose the unjustified delivery strike and will represent the voices of those harmed by the strike."

Earlier, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ National Delivery Workers' Union CJ Logistics Headquarters began a general strike on December 28 last year and has continued the struggle for 27 days as of today. According to the CJ Logistics Delivery Agency Association, about 1,600 members of the CJ Logistics union are participating in the strike, and the situation is worsening as unions from four delivery companies?Lotte, Hanjin, Logen, and Korea Post?are joining in solidarity.

Following some CJ Logistics agencies in Seongnam, Busan, Gwangju, and Sejong temporarily suspending the acceptance of corporate customer parcels immediately after the strike began, Hanjin Delivery has also stopped accepting new shipments in all areas of Ulsan and parts of Geoje since last week.

As the strike prolongs, conflicts between union members and non-union workers are intensifying.

The CJ Logistics Delivery Agency Association stated, "We urge the delivery workers' union, which continues the strike disregarding the pain of small business owners and the public, to withdraw the strike unconditionally," and criticized, "We cannot tolerate the delivery workers' union, which distorts social agreements and demands profit distribution by holding the public’s goods hostage, causing suffering to countless delivery workers and the public."

On the 20th, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, workers are sorting logistics at a courier center in Seoul amid the ongoing strike by the CJ Logistics delivery workers' union. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

CJ Logistics also responded as the situation escalated, stating, "The company will strive to establish a reasonable relationship based on law and principles at the delivery sites and support smooth dialogue between the agency association and the union."

However, regarding the previously pointed out commission increase, the delivery workers' union maintains the strike, saying, "If it is true that half of the 140 won increase in fees claimed by CJ Logistics, i.e., 70 won, has been reflected in the delivery workers' commissions or if the company promises to compensate the 70 won, we will hold a vote on whether to withdraw the strike."

The resulting damage is falling entirely on consumers and merchants.

The Small Business Association pointed out, "If the delivery workers' union strike, which holds small business owners and the entire public hostage, continues, it will inevitably have a serious adverse effect on the national economy," and urged, "CJ Logistics delivery workers' union should immediately withdraw the unjustified strike and return to normal operations to alleviate the inconvenience of small business owners and consumers who are complying with quarantine rules despite business restrictions."

Some consumers have not received parcels ordered at the end of last year for over three weeks, leading to order cancellations and returns, increasing consumer inconvenience. An industry official warned, "The logistics crisis could peak this week as the delivery workers' union strike prolongs and the volume of shipments surges during the Lunar New Year holiday."