"Selfish Collective Action Led by a Small Number of Hardline Aristocratic Union Leaders... Cannot Overlook Bad Practices"
First Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters Meeting on Cargo Solidarity's Collective Transport Refusal... Crisis Alert Raised from 'Caution' to 'Severe'
Government to Issue Work Commencement Orders in Severe Crisis... Police Establish Rapid Response System
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] As the Cargo Solidarity collective transportation refusal continues for the fifth day, the government announced that it has raised the crisis alert level from 'Caution' to 'Serious' and will respond strongly with a zero-tolerance policy based on law and principles. In particular, if a very serious crisis is expected for the national economy, the government plans to issue a work commencement order and establish a rapid response system by the police.
On the 28th, Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, explained this during his opening remarks at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in the morning, saying, "The national logistics system is on the verge of paralysis due to the collective transportation refusal by a very small number of hardline cargo transport workers belonging to some members of the Cargo Solidarity."
He added, "Illegal acts such as transportation obstruction are being committed against vehicles not participating in the transportation refusal, increasing the possibility of the situation worsening," and "Due to this collective transportation refusal, which occurred again five months after June, the volume of container exports and imports over the past four days has significantly decreased to 28.1% of the usual level, causing continuous damage."
In response, the government stated that, combined with the scheduled railway union strike, the entire logistics system could be paralyzed, and announced a comprehensive government response. Earlier, the government judged the situation as a serious crisis in the national core logistics system and raised the crisis alert level from 'Caution' to 'Serious' at 9 a.m. that day.
Minister Lee said, "To establish a comprehensive government response system, we have decided to form and operate the CDSCH and held the first meeting today," emphasizing, "We can no longer tolerate the repeated bad practice where the national economy is shaken and many innocent workers suffer damage due to selfish collective actions led by the leadership of a very small number of militant aristocratic unions."
He also set a policy to respond strongly with a zero-tolerance principle based on law and principles and to issue a work commencement order if a serious crisis is expected.
He stated, "If a very serious crisis is expected for the national economy due to this collective transportation refusal, we plan to issue a work commencement order and establish a rapid response system by the police to protect normal transportation," emphasizing, "We clearly state that if workers do not return despite the work commencement order, legal measures will inevitably be taken."
Emergency transportation measures will also be activated. Minister Lee said, "To minimize damage to the national economy, we will mobilize all available emergency transportation measures, such as permitting paid transportation with private vehicles and temporary operation permits for new car transportation," adding, "The government will build a close cooperation system with related ministries and local governments nationwide through the CDSCH and apply a national administration policy based on law and principles, fairness, and common sense."
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