Cargo Solidarity Union's Large-Scale Rally in Front of HiteJinro Headquarters on the 18th
Surprise Occupation of Headquarters Enters Fourth Day... HiteJinro Sues Union Members
Conflict Continues for Five Months... Demands Include Transport Fee Increase and Withdrawal of Damage Lawsuits
HiteJinro: "12 Contract Terminations... Some Claims Are Inaccurate"
The Cargo Solidarity of the Public Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally on the 18th in front of the Hite Jinro headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, urging the withdrawal of collective layoffs and damage compensation lawsuits by Hite Jinro. Participants in the rally are encouraging their colleagues who are protesting on the rooftop. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporters Song Seung-yoon and Jang Se-hee] The conflict between HiteJinro and the Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which has been ongoing for five months, appears to be intensifying.
According to the police and HiteJinro on the 18th, the Cargo Solidarity held a large-scale rally with about 1,000 participants from 2 p.m. at HiteJinro headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, which they occupied. They occupied the roadway in front of the headquarters, holding placards with slogans such as "Stop Union Busting Compensation Claims" and shouted chants. Although there was a brief scuffle with loud exchanges between police controlling the situation and union members, the rally ended without major physical clashes. About 600 police officers were deployed to respond on-site that day.
About 70 Cargo Solidarity union members have been illegally occupying and protesting inside the HiteJinro headquarters building for three consecutive days as of today. They are blocking the main entrance to prevent entry into the building and have also occupied the lobby and rooftop. Because of this, employees are currently entering and leaving through the back door. It is understood that about 10 people remain on the rooftop. Banners with demands such as "Crush Union Oppression," "Withdraw Compensation and Seizure," and "Reinstate All Dismissed Workers" are still hanging on the building's exterior walls.
On the 18th, the third day of the protest by the Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, occupying the Hite Jinro headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, a banner with their demands was hung on the building's exterior wall. Workers are staging a high-altitude sit-in on the rooftop billboard. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
HiteJinro filed a complaint with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul the previous night against the Cargo Solidarity union members occupying the headquarters. The charges include obstruction of business, special trespassing and refusal to leave, attempted arson of a building, and violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, totaling four charges. The Gangnam Police Station is currently reviewing the applicability of these charges. A police official stated, "Apart from forced dispersal, we need to examine their occupation protest later," adding, "We are conducting a legal review on the applicability of charges such as joint trespassing and obstruction of business."
Due to difficulties in negotiations between the union and HiteJinro, the protests are expected to continue for a long time. Lee Jin-su, deputy head of the Daejeon regional headquarters, told reporters, "This action is to accurately inform the current situation," and said, "Large-scale rallies will continue until negotiations are concluded."
The conflict between the two sides has been ongoing for five months. It began when about 130 truck owners affiliated with Suyang Logistics, a subcontracted cargo transport company for HiteJinro, joined the Cargo Solidarity under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at the end of March and went on strike. Since then, they started a partial strike in March, escalated to a full strike in June, and following the Cargo Solidarity's general strike, they have continued obstructive actions such as illegally parking trucks near the factory entrances of the Icheon and Cheongju plants or blocking access roads. After police intervention stopped shipments, they moved on to occupy the headquarters. Their demands have expanded to include increased transportation fees and empty container fees, payment for vehicle advertising, idling and waiting costs, reinstatement of union members whose contracts were terminated, and withdrawal of damage compensation lawsuits and injunctions filed against union members.
The Cargo Solidarity of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a rally on the 18th in front of the HiteJinro headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, urging the withdrawal of collective layoffs and damage compensation lawsuits by HiteJinro. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
Currently, it is understood that 68 Cargo Solidarity union members nationwide are under investigation for charges including obstruction of transportation. Earlier, on June 8, 37 union members were arrested on the spot at the HiteJinro Icheon plant for blocking truck access, with one detained. On the 22nd of last month, 17 union members were arrested at the Cheongju plant for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and obstruction of business. On the 5th of this month, 14 union members protesting at the Hongcheon plant in Gangwon were arrested, with two detained.
The Cargo Solidarity demands that HiteJinro take active steps to resolve the issue, citing that Suyang Logistics is a 100% subsidiary of HiteJinro, but HiteJinro maintains that under subcontracting law, the headquarters cannot directly intervene in employment matters.
Regarding the Cargo Solidarity's claim that "the company terminated contracts with 132 cargo workers," HiteJinro issued a statement the previous day rebutting, saying, "It has been confirmed that Suyang Logistics terminated contracts with 12 people, not 130, excluding 12 cooperative carriers who showed no intention to perform duties and those involved in illegal activities." Regarding the union's claim that transportation fees have remained the same for 15 years, HiteJinro added, "The transportation fees were set after cost analysis in consultation with truck owners when the fuel price linkage system was applied, composed of 45% fuel costs and 55% non-fuel costs. Since the application of the fuel price linkage system, from 2011 to last year, the transportation fee (excluding fuel costs) increased by 26.36%, exceeding the consumer price inflation rate of 14.08% over 10 years, and fuel costs are reflected quarterly."
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