Cargo Solidarity Union "Won Hee-ryong, Let's Talk"... 5th Negotiation Resumes at 8 PM

Cargo Solidarity - Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport 5th Negotiation Progress
Nationwide Logistics Damage Spreads Due to Prolonged Cargo Solidarity General Strike

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] After the breakdown of the 4th round of negotiations, the government and the Cargo Solidarity, which had been running parallel, have agreed to resume talks. Attention is focused on whether the two sides, who had shown differences over the extension of the 'Safe Freight Rate System' sunset clause, will reach a dramatic agreement.

According to the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union on the 14th, the Cargo Solidarity and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will hold the 5th round of negotiations from 8 p.m. that day. This negotiation resumed two days after the 4th round on the 12th, and was arranged after Cargo Solidarity publicly requested a meeting with Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong, who visited the Uiwang Inland Container Depot (ICD) in Gyeonggi Province that day.

Earlier, Cargo Solidarity stated in a comment, "We formally request a public dialogue with Minister Won," and proposed, "Do not hold national safety hostage, make a decision on the 'abolition of the Safe Freight Rate sunset clause,' and let's talk at 8 p.m. at Uiwang ICD."

Minister Won, while visiting Uiwang ICD that day and receiving a report on the logistics situation, warned, "Demanding unilateral enforcement by holding the national economy hostage is unacceptable for the people," and added, "The government will continue to listen to reasonable claims but will respond strictly according to law and principles to illegal actions."

Since the 4th round of negotiations broke down on the 12th, the two sides are meeting again after two days, drawing attention to whether the negotiations will bear fruit. However, Cargo Solidarity has shown a negative stance toward the ruling party's proposal to extend the sunset clause deadline, making it uncertain whether the two sides will reach an agreement. Previously, Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, stated on a radio broadcast, "There is no disagreement on extending the sunset clause deadline to measure performance," but added, "There needs to be consideration regarding its perpetuation."

As the Cargo Solidarity's general strike prolongs, logistics damage appears to be spreading nationwide. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, as of 10 a.m. that day, the container storage rate by port (the ratio of containers actually stored to the port's container storage capacity) was 72.7%, slightly higher than the normal level of 65.8%.

However, at some ports such as Busan Port and Ulsan Port, local transportation obstruction acts caused the volume of imports and exports to decrease compared to normal times. In the case of Incheon Port container terminal, the storage rate as of 10 a.m. that day was 83.3%, 4.2 percentage points higher than the same time last month (79.1%).

Damage to industrial sites is also continuing. Shipment disruptions have occurred in major industries such as steel, tires, cement, and petrochemicals, and production stoppages are gradually becoming visible. In particular, cement shipments have sharply declined compared to usual, causing some ready-mixed concrete plants to halt operations. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport also reported that some steel plants have stopped operations due to a lack of storage space.