HiteJinro and Cargo Solidarity Reach Tentative Agreement on 9th
Union Members to Vote on Ending Sit-in Protest
Negotiations on Contentious Issues Like Compensation Lawsuits and Reinstatement
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@
[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The Cargo Solidarity, a branch of the Korean Public Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which has been in conflict with HiteJinro over transportation fee increases and withdrawal of damage claims, has reached a tentative agreement with the management after about six months.
According to industry sources on the 9th, Cargo Solidarity prepared a tentative agreement with the management in the early morning. They reached an agreement on contentious issues such as filing damage claims and civil and criminal complaints against union members, as well as the reinstatement of union members. The union plans to hold a vote among its members at 4 p.m. on the same day regarding the tentative agreement, including whether to lift the sit-in protest.
Earlier, Cargo Solidarity union members had been holding a sit-in protest occupying the lobby and rooftop of the HiteJinro headquarters building since the 16th of last month. They lifted the lobby sit-in on the 24th of the same month after HiteJinro agreed to participate in negotiations as an observer. However, the rooftop occupation protest continued.
The Cargo Solidarity of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union, affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, held a rally on the 18th in front of the Hite Jinro headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, demanding the withdrawal of mass layoffs and damage compensation lawsuits by Hite Jinro. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
Cargo Solidarity demanded an increase in transportation fees, reinstatement of union members whose contracts were terminated, and withdrawal of damage claims and injunctions filed against union members. However, negotiations faced difficulties as the gap between the two sides' positions remained wide.
Cargo Solidarity criticized HiteJinro for filing damage claims against 11 union members on June 17 and subsequently filing similar damage claims against another 14 union members. HiteJinro also pursued criminal procedures by filing complaints with the Gangnam Police Station in Seoul against Cargo Solidarity union members who occupied the headquarters on charges including obstruction of business, special trespassing, refusal to vacate, attempted arson of a building, and violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act.
About 130 truck owners affiliated with Suyang Logistics joined Cargo Solidarity under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions at the end of March and started partial strikes, escalating to a full strike in June. They held multiple rallies at the Icheon, Cheongju, and Gangwon Hongcheon factories. During the rallies, truck blockades at factory entrances prevented internal access, causing several shipment suspensions at each factory.
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