Opposition questions whether negotiations will proceed with "work commencement order" amid Cargo Solidarity strike

Park Sung-jun "What Has the Government Been Doing for the Past Six Months?"

Officials from the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters and the Public Transport Union Transport Industry Council held a press conference on the 23rd in front of the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, condemning the government and ruling party's attempt to worsen the Cargo Safety Freight Rate System, expressing solidarity with the cargo general strike, and refusing alternative transportation by transport workers. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Geum Bo-ryeong] The Democratic Party of Korea criticized the government’s consideration of issuing a work commencement order amid the Cargo Solidarity’s general strike, saying, "The government is holding an ultra-strong card called the work commencement order, so it is questionable whether negotiations will proceed properly."

Park Seong-jun, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, stated at a briefing held at the National Assembly on the 27th, "Tomorrow, the Cargo Solidarity and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport are said to enter negotiations. They should abandon the idea that they can suppress workers’ demands for survival rights with a tough response card."

The Cargo Solidarity is demanding the permanent establishment of the Safe Freight Rate System and the expansion of applicable vehicle types and items under the system.

Spokesperson Park pointed out, "The Cargo Solidarity’s demand for the expansion of the Safe Freight Rate System was made around the time of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s inauguration," adding, "What exactly has the government been doing for the past six months?"

He continued, "The government’s role is to find the best wisdom so that labor and management coexist and prosper to revive the difficult economy, but the current situation is truly regrettable," emphasizing, "The government must engage in negotiations with a progressive and proactive attitude to ensure the Cargo Solidarity’s general strike can be halted."

Lee Su-jin, the floor spokesperson, also met with reporters at the National Assembly on the same day and said, "Measures must be established to expand the Safe Freight Rate System so that many cargo workers can be relieved from the pain of dying or getting injured while working."

Floor spokesperson Lee added, "Although the issue (expansion of the Safe Freight Rate System) has been transferred to the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee, there have been considerable difficulties due to the People Power Party’s lukewarm attitude," and said, "It is not desirable to focus solely on the strike when there was an opportunity to resolve the conflict."