<기사제목>Presidential Office Urges Cargo Solidarity Union for Prompt Return to Work to Prevent Reissuance of Work Commencement Order</기사제목>

Cargo Solidarity Strike Causes 7 Days of Shipping Disruptions Worth 1.6 Trillion Won
Presidential Office: "We Are All Victims of the Indefinite Transport Halt"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 1st, the Presidential Office repeatedly urged the members of the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union (Cargo Solidarity), who are currently engaged in a collective transportation refusal, to "return to work promptly so that the order to resume work will not have to be reissued if possible."

Deputy Spokesperson Lee Jae-myung of the Presidential Office said at a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day, "Considering the people who are in a more difficult situation than ever and the worsening external environment, we cannot leave the damage caused by the indefinite transportation stoppage unattended. The victims of the indefinite transportation stoppage are all of us," he said.

Deputy Spokesperson Lee added, "Due to the prolonged Cargo Solidarity strike, the number of gas stations running out of fuel is increasing, and public inconvenience is growing," and reported, "As of 2 p.m. today, there are 49 gas stations out of fuel. It increased from 21 stations on the 29th of last month to 29 stations yesterday and 49 stations today."

He continued, "The government is operating an emergency response system to minimize damage to domestic industries and public inconvenience, while checking the current situation and preparing countermeasures." The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held a practical meeting on the order to resume work for the refining industry and an emergency demand inspection meeting on the same day.

Deputy Spokesperson Lee also explained, "It has been identified that the scale of shipment disruptions in sectors such as cement, steel, automobiles, and refining due to the Cargo Solidarity's seven-day collective transportation refusal has tentatively reached 1.6 trillion won."

He then reaffirmed the government's determination not to compromise with the Cargo Solidarity's collective transportation refusal, saying, "Our government does not compromise with any illegal acts and is striving to establish labor-management rule of law."

A Presidential Office official told reporters regarding the convening of an emergency Cabinet meeting for an additional order to resume work, "We continue to monitor the situation and are taking urgent measures."

Regarding Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong's characterization of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' strike as a "planned strike," he said, "The economy is more difficult than ever. It is a situation where the state, companies, and all economic actors must give hope to the people," adding, "The Cargo Solidarity's unjustified and groundless collective transportation refusal, followed by simultaneous strikes by several unions affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, does not help anyone."

He explained the background of President Yoon Seok-youl mentioning the reform of the dual structure of the labor market, saying, "When the economy worsens, the ones who suffer are not the organized minority but the majority of workers who are unorganized and work in poor conditions," and "It is important to prevent those people from suffering, and from that perspective, the issues of the dual structure of the labor market and labor-management rule of law are being mentioned."