Yoon to Cargo Solidarity: "If Baseless Demands Continue, We Will Consider All Measures to Respond" (Comprehensive)

President Yoon: "If the Cargo Solidarity Strike Prolongs, the People Will Suffer Greater Pain"
Presidential Office: "Work Commencement Order Is an Order... Not a Matter for Acceptance Judgment"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol warned on the 29th, after deciding on a work commencement order against the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union (Cargo Solidarity), that "if baseless demands continue, we will have no choice but to take all possible measures to respond."

In his closing remarks at the morning Cabinet meeting, President Yoon said, "If the Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal, which holds the daily lives of the people hostage, prolongs, the public will suffer greater pain," according to a briefing by Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jae-myung of the Presidential Office.

He made it clear that since this collective transport refusal is deemed illegal, there is no intention to compromise with Cargo Solidarity. President Yoon stated, "In labor-management issues, it may seem easier to compromise immediately, but that would only trigger another illegal strike," adding, "For labor-management issues to be resolved peacefully, no matter how difficult, laws and principles must be firmly established."

President Yoon continued, "The rule of law is established when people understand that not following the law leads to much greater suffering than abiding by it," and added, "In situations where the rule of law and democracy are threatened, there can be no growth or prosperity."

He also urged the Cargo Solidarity to quickly stop the collective transport refusal and return to work, saying, "If Cargo Solidarity ceases the collective transport refusal and returns to the field promptly, the government can carefully examine and resolve the difficulties faced by cargo transport operators and transport workers."

Earlier in the Cabinet meeting, President Yoon expressed his determination to eradicate illegal strikes. At that time, he said, "Logistics such as cement and steel have been halted, causing construction and production sites nationwide to come to a standstill, and our industrial base is at risk of being devastated. Even the daily lives of the people are being threatened," and strongly criticized, "Using the lives of the people and the national economy as hostages to enforce their own interests has no justification or legitimacy."

President Yoon particularly emphasized, "During my term, I will firmly establish labor-management rule of law and will never compromise with illegality. Furthermore, those responsible for illegal acts will be strictly held accountable to the end."

He also said, "In the face of the economic crisis, the government and the people, labor and management, cannot have differing minds," and urged, "Cargo Solidarity members, please return to your respective positions before it is too late."

He promised to break the chain of illegal strikes for the people suffering from this situation. President Yoon said, "We intend to establish laws and principles properly and break the vicious cycle of illegal strikes to prevent the burden on the people, so the public will experience much inconvenience and pain," and earnestly requested, "But I sincerely ask for your endurance."

President Yoon also expressed regret, stating, "It is very unfortunate that solidarity strikes by the subway and railroad unions are also being announced, not just Cargo Solidarity." He added, "The railroad and subway unions under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions that have announced solidarity strikes have higher incomes and better working conditions compared to the truly vulnerable workers in the industrial field, the overwhelming majority of wage workers," emphasizing, "The strikes by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions have no legitimacy and will be dealt with firmly according to laws and principles."

President Yoon added, "The government will strive harder for labor reforms to improve the dual structure of the labor market by improving laws and systems so that the truly vulnerable workers in the industrial field who are not organized can be better cared for."

A key official from the Presidential Office told reporters, "A work commencement order is literally an order," and said, "It is not a matter of whether it can be accepted or not. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will explain this sufficiently and take future measures accordingly."

Meanwhile, in an interview with a major overseas media outlet published that day, President Yoon described the strike situation, including the Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal, as "a really serious problem with Korea's militant unions," and stated that the government is responding based on the rule of law.