[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] The Cargo Solidarity of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) has been staging a sit-in protest for four days at the HiteJinro Gangwon Plant in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, causing a halt in shipments. Five union members who occupied the logistics vehicle passage were arrested on the spot by the police.
On the 5th, the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency announced that they had arrested five union members on charges of obstruction of business. Around 11:50 a.m. that day, the police issued a dispersal order to the union members blocking the only access road to the HiteJinro Gangwon Plant, the Haiteu Bridge, but they refused and were taken into custody.
Since the afternoon of the 2nd, the Cargo Solidarity has been protesting with about 20 trucks, causing disruptions in the shipment of alcoholic beverages at the HiteJinro Gangwon Plant for four consecutive days. The plant produces beer products such as Terra, Hite, Max, and Filite. The KCTU stated that 300 to 400 people from across the country are participating in the rally, and union members blocking the passage have halted the shipment of alcoholic products.
Although shipments resumed after the police deployed riot police to secure the logistics vehicle passage the previous day, shipments were halted again after just one day, causing further disruptions. A police official said, "Currently, about 30 empty logistics vehicles are entering the plant in preparation for product shipment." Earlier, two union members who were arrested on the spot the previous day on charges of obstruction of business while blocking logistics vehicle movement on the bridge were investigated and released that night.
In the rally site where Cargo Solidarity union members have been conducting a '2-night 3-day solidarity struggle' since the previous day, injuries also occurred. According to the fire department, at around 12:30 p.m. that day, one union member was transported to the hospital for treatment due to back pain, and two others complained of minor injuries such as abrasions and received emergency treatment.
The union members are reportedly demanding a 30% increase in freight charges, payment for holiday work transportation fees, and coverage of vehicle advertising and car wash expenses.
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