Gyeonggi-do Elevates Cargo Solidarity Strike Response to 'Administrative Deputy Governor System'

Gyeonggi Provincial Government Gwanggyo New Office Building

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has elevated its response to the Cargo Solidarity strike to an 'Administrative 2nd Vice Governor system.'

On the 24th, Gyeonggi Province announced that in response to the full-scale strike by the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Transport Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, it has upgraded the Emergency Transport Countermeasures Headquarters Chief from the 'Director of the Railroad, Port, and Logistics Bureau' to the 'Administrative 2nd Vice Governor' to minimize inconvenience to residents. However, since the position of Administrative 2nd Vice Governor is currently vacant, the Director of the Provincial Balanced Development Planning Office will act as the deputy.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport raised the crisis level from 'Caution' (Yellow) to 'Alert' (Orange) at 5 p.m. on the 23rd, according to the National Crisis Management Manual.

Under the 'Alert' stage of the National Crisis Management Manual, to prevent disruptions in cargo transportation, enforcement against illegal parking and overnight parking violations (from 0:00 to 4:00 a.m.) near major logistics hub facilities will be implemented, and locksmiths and tow trucks may be mobilized to tow illegally abandoned vehicles.

The province is supporting local governments in smoothly issuing permits for paid private vehicle transportation (commercial operation).

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated late on the 23rd via Facebook, "During the five months since the strike in June, no one has taken active measures to resolve the situation or implemented promised actions," emphasizing that "focusing only on 'strict illegal crackdowns' will make it difficult to resolve the situation going forward."

He added, "Responsible efforts from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the National Assembly, the Economic, Social and Labor Council, and both labor and management sides are urgently needed to prevent public inconvenience and industrial damage caused by the logistics crisis," and "Gyeonggi Province will do its best, including deploying substitute vehicles, to reduce cargo transport gaps and inconvenience to residents."

Meanwhile, about 1,000 union members of the Cargo Solidarity Seoul-Gyeonggi Branch held a full-scale strike departure ceremony this morning at the Uiwang Inland Container Depot (ICD) intersection and plan to carry out blockade protests using cargo trucks, similar to the strike in June.

After the departure ceremony, from the afternoon, they will disperse personnel to Uiwang ICD and Pyeongtaek-Dangjin Port to continue their publicity campaign.