Vehicles parked at the public cargo parking lot in Palyong-dong, Uichang-gu, Changwon-si, Gyeongnam. / Photo by Se-ryeong Lee ryeong@
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] The Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) launched a full-scale indefinite strike on the 7th, leading to a series of strike send-off ceremonies and rallies in Gyeongnam as well.
At 10 a.m. that day, simultaneous nationwide strike send-off ceremonies were held by 16 regional headquarters, with the event in Gyeongnam taking place in front of Daewoo Shipbuilding Ocean Plaza in Geoje City.
The Cargo Solidarity had announced a total strike at a press conference on the 23rd of last month, demanding the repeal of the safety freight rate system introduced as a sunset clause along with the amendment of the Freight Transport Business Act.
The safety freight rate system is a measure that imposes fines on consignors who pay freight rates lower than the safety freight rate, which is the minimum freight rate necessary to ensure traffic safety. It has been implemented for three years since 2020 and is scheduled to be abolished at the end of this year.
The Solidarity stated the reason for proceeding with the strike, saying, "Considering the impact on the national economy, we tried to keep all channels of dialogue open with the government and negotiate, but the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has not made any requests for dialogue or active contact since the first negotiation on the 2nd."
The Cargo Solidarity is demanding ▲ the repeal of the sunset clause on the safety freight rate system and its expansion ▲ an increase in transportation fees ▲ abolition of the consignment system and structural reform of the freight transport industry ▲ expansion of basic labor rights and protection of freight workers' rights.
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