Press Conference on Cargo Solidarity General Strike Held on the 8th
Emphasis on Fuel Cost Burden and Need for Safety Freight Rate System
"We Will Not Use Violence... But If Government Responds with Repression, We Will Escalate the Struggle"
Democratic Labor Union Also Supports Strike... "Government Remains Consistently Without Measures"
On the 8th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a 'No Sunset for Public Safety! Cargo Solidarity General Strike Press Conference' in Jung-gu, Seoul. The Cargo Solidarity began an indefinite general strike from midnight the previous day, demanding the abolition of the sunset clause on safe freight rates and an increase in transportation fees due to high oil prices. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU), which launched a general strike advocating for the expanded application of the Safe Freight Rate System, criticized the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and other government bodies for shirking responsibility. While pledging not to use violence during the strike, they warned that if the government continues with only harsh responses and repression, they will escalate the intensity of their struggle. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) also joined in solidarity, pressuring the government.
On the 8th, the Cargo Solidarity held a "Cargo Solidarity General Strike Press Conference" around 11 a.m. at the KCTU Education Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. They shouted slogans such as "Stop logistics, change the world" and "Expand the Safe Freight Rate System."
At the press conference, the Cargo Solidarity criticized MOLIT for avoiding responsibility. They stated, "MOLIT is shifting responsibility to the National Assembly by claiming that abolishing the sunset clause of the Safe Freight Rate System and expanding the system fall under the legislature's authority, and has not even expressed a position." They added, "Since January this year, three regular negotiations have been held between Cargo Solidarity and MOLIT, but there has been no progress in discussions regarding the abolition of the sunset clause and system expansion." Furthermore, "Although MOLIT says it will create a Safe Freight Task Force (TF) to resolve the issue, it has proposed the TF in different contexts each time, which is a meaningless excuse to evade responsibility," they added.
The Cargo Solidarity cited the burden of fuel costs as the background for the general strike. The average diesel price, which was 1,374 won in June last year, rose sharply in the first half of this year to 2,028 won as of the previous day, leading to increased burdens on cargo workers. They said, "The government has introduced policies such as fuel tax reductions, but since fuel subsidies are cut along with the fuel tax, the effect of the fuel tax reduction on cargo workers is minimal." They emphasized, "It is necessary to establish standards for freight rates so that fuel price increases do not lead to income reductions for cargo workers but instead result in increased transportation fees."
They also stressed the necessity of the Safe Freight Rate System. Although the system is scheduled to be abolished this year due to the sunset clause, it should be expanded to cover all product categories beyond just being established. Currently, the system applies to containers and cement. The Cargo Solidarity stated, "If the Safe Freight Rate System disappears, immediate freight rate reductions will cause severe confusion on the ground," and "The accident rate among cargo workers, which began to decline after the system's implementation, is expected to rise again, threatening public safety."
They also asserted the legitimacy of the strike under these circumstances. Lee Bong-ju, Chairperson of Cargo Solidarity, said, "The Safe Freight Rate Committee should be established and discussions should start from July, but no discussions have taken place yet, and it is already late." He added, "The government is asking us to stop the strike, but we will continue until we receive a promise to abolish the sunset clause." He also explained that if the government continues with only repression, they will escalate the level of their struggle.
However, Chairperson Lee addressed physical clashes that occurred at various strike sites, saying, "Although some union members have acted aggressively, Cargo Solidarity resolved before the strike not to use violence," and "If we resort to violent methods, we will lose public support, and then we will inevitably be eliminated."
On the same day, union and non-union members of Cargo Solidarity gave on-site testimonies. One union member said, "Cargo workers are forced to speed and endure accumulated fatigue," and "With the recent sharp increase in fuel costs, I cannot bring living expenses home." Additionally, a union member who transports grains complained, "If containers and cement are excluded from the Safe Freight Rate System, the situation will become even more difficult," and "Because grains are heavy, fuel efficiency is poor, and consumables like tires and lines wear out quickly."
Meanwhile, the KCTU expressed support for the Cargo Solidarity strike. In a press conference that day, the KCTU stated, "Cargo workers are being driven into a situation where deficits accumulate the more they operate, and although they demanded effective measures from the government, the government has remained without any measures." They added, "The government only repeats threats to strictly respond to illegal acts according to law and principles rather than making efforts to resolve the Cargo Solidarity workers' strike."
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