Fair Trade Commission Attempts On-Site Investigation of Cargo Solidarity Headquarters Again After Three Days

Labor and social organization representatives from the Movement Headquarters for the Amendment of Articles 2 and 3 of the Labor Union Act held an urgent press conference on the 5th in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, calling for an end to the all-out suppression of the Cargo Solidarity and strongly condemning the Yoon Seok-yeol administration. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Dongwoo Lee] On the 5th, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) attempted to conduct an on-site investigation of the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters (Hwamul Yeondae) of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union (Gonggong Unsunojo). This was three days after they were unable to enter the building due to obstruction by union members during the on-site investigation on the 2nd.

According to civic groups, on the morning of the same day, the KFTC sent investigators to the Public Transport Workers' Union building in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the Cargo Solidarity office is located, to attempt an on-site investigation. However, the Cargo Solidarity side blocked entry to the building.

Around the same time, the KFTC visited the Cargo Solidarity Busan Regional Headquarters in Nam-gu, Busan, but could not start the on-site investigation as the office door was closed.

Earlier last week, the KFTC conducted on-site investigations at the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, and the Busan Regional Headquarters in Nam-gu, Busan, to verify whether Cargo Solidarity violated unfair joint acts and prohibited acts by business associations.

However, the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters blocked entry citing the absence of representatives, and the Busan Regional Headquarters also prevented the KFTC's entry, claiming that investigations could not be conducted during the strike period.

The KFTC is investigating whether Cargo Solidarity violated Article 40 (Prohibition of Unfair Joint Acts) and Article 51 (Prohibited Acts of Business Associations) of the Fair Trade Act during the general strike. The KFTC plans to attempt dialogue with the Cargo Solidarity side again in the afternoon.