HiteJinro-Cargo Solidarity Conflict Prolonged... No Major Progress in Negotiations

HiteJinro-Cargo Solidarity Negotiations Stalled
Disagreement Over Reinstatement of Union Members After Contract Termination
HiteJinro Files Additional Compensation Lawsuit
Union Members Occupying Headquarters Also Sued... Police Notify Union to Appear

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] As negotiations between Hite Jinro and the Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions show little progress, the conflict appears to be entering a prolonged phase.

According to industry sources on the 27th, Hite Jinro, its cargo transportation subcontractor Suyang Logistics, and the Cargo Solidarity have held two rounds of negotiations since the partial lifting of the headquarters occupation on the 24th, but these ended without significant progress. It is known that there is a large difference in opinion regarding the reinstatement of union members whose contracts were terminated. Suyang Logistics proposed reducing the number of initially terminated contract workers from 12 to 7, but the Cargo Solidarity demands full reinstatement. They are also requesting an increase in transportation fees, reinstatement of the terminated union members, and withdrawal of the damage compensation lawsuits and injunctions for obstruction of work filed against the union members.

In previous negotiations, only executives such as the executive director and managing director of Suyang Logistics and the Cargo Solidarity leadership attended, but now the CEO of Suyang Logistics is directly participating as a negotiator, and the logistics team leader of Hite Jinro headquarters is attending as an observer. Hite Jinro had maintained the position that, under the Subcontracting Act, the headquarters cannot directly intervene in employment issues, but it seems to have stepped back from this stance.

Earlier, union members of the Cargo Solidarity who had occupied and protested at Hite Jinro headquarters in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul since the 16th of this month lifted their lobby protest on the 24th after nine days. The high-altitude protest continuing on the rooftop with banners remains ongoing.

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@

On the 29th of last month, Hite Jinro filed additional damage compensation lawsuits against 14 Cargo Solidarity union members. As a result, the number of defendants in the damage compensation lawsuits filed by the company increased from 11 to a total of 25. In June, Hite Jinro had filed a damage compensation lawsuit worth approximately 2.77 billion KRW against 11 union members, citing losses due to delayed product shipments caused by the Cargo Solidarity strike. A Hite Jinro official stated, "In addition to the existing 11 defendants, we have obtained personal information of 14 new individuals and filed lawsuits against them," adding, "We plan to request concurrent trials from the court."

The conflict between the two sides has continued for five months. About 130 truck owners affiliated with Suyang Logistics, Hite Jinro's cargo transportation subcontractor, joined the Cargo Solidarity under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at the end of March and began partial strikes, escalating to a full strike in June. They held rallies at the Icheon and Cheongju plants and have now occupied the headquarters for protest.

On the 17th of this month, Hite Jinro filed complaints 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 violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act. The next day, the complainants were also questioned. As the police have requested their appearance, the union side is also preparing for defendant investigations.