Ready-mix Concrete Transport Union Reaches Transport Fee Agreement... Normal Operations Resume from Tomorrow (Update)

Agreed to Raise Transportation Fees by 24.5% Over Two Years... 7,700 Won Increase This Year, 6,000 Won Additional Increase Next Year

On the morning of the 1st, participants shouted slogans at the rally to protect the livelihood rights of ready-mix concrete transport workers held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] The Ready-Mix Concrete Transport Workers' Union (Transport Union) and ready-mix concrete manufacturers in the Seoul metropolitan area have reached an agreement on transportation fees.

At the negotiation held on the 3rd, the Transport Union and the metropolitan ready-mix concrete manufacturers agreed to raise the current transportation fee of 56,000 KRW per trip by 24.5% over two years. Accordingly, the ready-mix mixer trucks, which had stopped transportation since the 1st, will resume normal operations starting tomorrow.

The Transport Union and the ready-mix concrete manufacturers agreed to first raise the fee by 7,700 KRW this year, and then by an additional 6,000 KRW next year, totaling an increase of 13,700 KRW. Based on the current average transportation fee of 56,000 KRW in the metropolitan area, from the 1st of this month until June 30th next year, the fee will be 63,700 KRW after a 7,700 KRW increase for one year, and from July 1st next year for one year, the average fee will be 69,700 KRW after an additional 6,000 KRW increase.

Additionally, the transportation fee for the recovered water (wastewater) remaining in mixer trucks after batching at the ready-mix concrete plant and on-site pouring will be applied at 50%. Currently, some vehicles receive this application, with manufacturers bearing 50% of the cost, but this will be expanded to all vehicles.

Other demands such as 100% payment for diesel exhaust fluid, a 1 million KRW holiday bonus, a 1 million KRW time-off allowance, and a performance bonus of 1 million KRW per person (twice a year) were withdrawn.

Kim Hee-gwi, Secretary General of the Transport Union, stated, "Since everyone is facing difficult circumstances, we accepted the two-year installment increase plan from a national perspective and agreed to compromise on the other conditions," adding, "Starting tomorrow, the vehicles will operate normally."

Kim Jang-soo, Secretary General of the Korea Ready-Mix Concrete Industry Association, said, "We are relieved that the negotiation was settled," and added, "We agreed to resume normal operations starting tomorrow based on mutual trust."