Partial Release of HiteJinro Headquarters Occupation by Cargo Solidarity... Will Negotiations Open Up?

Cargo Solidarity Ends Lobby Sit-in on the Morning of the 24th
Union "HiteJinro Must Actively Engage in Dialogue"
HiteJinro "Attending Negotiations as Observer"
HiteJinro Takes a Step Back... Interest in Reaching a Consensus

On the 18th, the third day of the protest by the Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) 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@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Cargo Solidarity Hitejinro Branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Public Transport Workers' Union, which had been occupying the lobby and rooftop of Hitejinro headquarters, has partially lifted the occupation and will sit at the negotiation table with Hitejinro.

According to industry sources on the 24th, union members belonging to the Cargo Solidarity who had been occupying and protesting at Hitejinro headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, lifted the lobby protest at 10 a.m. that day. It has been 9 days since the occupation protest at the headquarters began. The rooftop high-altitude protest, where banners are displayed, is expected to continue.

The union announced the partial lifting of the protest the day before, stating, "While continuing the high-altitude protest, we will lift the lobby protest to open the door for dialogue with Hitejinro," and added, "Now Hitejinro must respond to the dialogue demands of cargo workers."

The union said, "We have repeatedly expressed that if the withdrawal of the injunctions and the promise to reinstate dismissed workers are fulfilled, other matters can be sufficiently adjusted through dialogue, but the management has not provided a clear response," adding, "Because the real decision must come from Hitejinro's president. Hitejinro must actively engage in dialogue with cargo workers to resolve this situation."

Hitejinro also announced on the same day, "From the 24th, the CEO of Suyang Logistics will directly participate as a negotiator, and the logistics team leader of Hitejinro headquarters will attend as an observer, which has been communicated to the Cargo Solidarity," and stated, "This is a measure decided for smooth communication along with Suyang Logistics' active and prompt decision-making." Until now, only executives such as the executive director and managing director of Suyang Logistics and the Cargo Solidarity executive team had attended the negotiations.

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@

The conflict between the two sides has continued for five months. About 130 truck owners belonging to Suyang Logistics, a subcontracted transportation company of Hitejinro, joined the Cargo Solidarity under the KCTU at the end of March and started a partial strike, escalating to a full strike in June. They held rallies at the Icheon and Cheongju plants and began occupying the headquarters from the 16th. Suyang Logistics is a company wholly owned by Hitejinro.

They are demanding an increase in transportation fees, reinstatement of union members whose contracts were terminated, and withdrawal of damage compensation lawsuits and injunction applications filed against union members. The Cargo Solidarity has demanded that Hitejinro actively resolve the issue, citing that Suyang Logistics is a 100% subsidiary of Hitejinro, but Hitejinro has maintained the position that, under the Subcontracting Act, the headquarters cannot directly intervene in employment issues. This attendance at the negotiation as an observer marks a step back from their original stance.

Hitejinro has filed a complaint with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul against Cargo Solidarity union members occupying the headquarters on charges including obstruction of business, special trespassing and refusal to leave, attempted arson of a building, and violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act. A Hitejinro official has appeared at the police station and completed the complainant investigation, and the union side is also preparing for the defendant investigation.