Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated on the 30th that if risks become visible in other industrial sectors due to logistics paralysis, additional transport commencement orders could be issued beyond the cement industry.
After personally conducting an on-site inspection at a cement transportation company in Seoul that day, Minister Won told reporters, "If it is judged that the crisis is approaching in other sectors besides cement, we will not hesitate to issue additional transport commencement orders at any time."
He added, "It will be too late to take action after the crisis occurs," and said, "After today (the 30th), inventory will rapidly decrease and loading space will fill up day by day in the refining, steel, and container sectors, causing the national economic crisis index to rise sharply."
He also reaffirmed a tough stance toward the Cargo Solidarity Union.
With the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Cargo Solidarity Union scheduled to meet for the second time since the strike began at 2 p.m. at the Government Complex Sejong that day, Minister Won drew a line regarding the term "negotiation." He stated that the Ministry and the Cargo Solidarity Union are not parties to negotiations.
Minister Won said, "(The Safe Freight Rate System) is a legislative matter for the National Assembly and, in a way, a civil complaint issue," adding, "There is no need to meet before returning to work, but since the Cargo Solidarity Union is requesting a meeting, we do not need to avoid it, so we are holding the meeting."
He continued, "Do not create forced justifications such as refusing transport due to no progress in the meeting," and warned, "If this happens, today's (the 30th) meeting may not take place."
Minister Won stated, "Formal meetings for the sake of building justifications to continue collective transport refusal are meaningless," and added, "The National Assembly has already established the standards and procedures for discussion."
He urged truck drivers avoiding delivery of the work commencement orders to return to work, warning that they could face aggravated punishment. He said, "The Cargo Solidarity Union leadership should not teach ways to evade delivery by tricks," and added, "There is a method of public delivery for that part, and even if it takes a week, we will definitely mobilize the highest punishment prescribed by law until the end."
Minister Won assessed that the volume is gradually recovering due to the effect of the work commencement order issued the previous day for the cement sector.
At cement factories in Danyang, Chungbuk?Sungshin Cement, Hanil Cement, and Asia Cement?transport volume had recovered to 30-40% of normal levels as of that morning. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport expects that if truck drivers continue to return in the afternoon, transport volume will recover to 60-70% of weekday levels.
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