Democratic Party: "Is the Additional Work Commencement Order a Pressure Tactic if the Government Doesn't Comply?"

Kim Hyun-jung Spokesperson: "The Government and Ruling Party Resemble a 'Locomotive Running Without Brakes'"

On the 8th, when the government issued an order to commence work to the Cargo Solidarity in the steel and petrochemical sectors, tanker trucks were operating on the road in front of the Seoul branch of Daehan Oil Pipeline Corporation in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. / Seongnam = Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] On the 8th, the Democratic Party of Korea criticized the government and ruling party for their issuance of a work commencement order against transport refusers in the steel and petrochemical industries, saying, "The government and ruling party pushing the Cargo Solidarity only through coercion and intimidation without dialogue or negotiation is like a 'runaway locomotive without brakes.'"

Kim Hyun-jung, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a briefing, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government issued a work commencement order against transport refusers in the steel and petrochemical sectors, and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stated, 'The government will not compromise with illegality and will strictly hold those responsible accountable.' Looking at the government's stance of unconditionally labeling the strike as illegal, it is unclear whether they intend to resolve the Cargo Solidarity strike situation amicably or to completely erase the labor union," she pointed out.

Spokesperson Kim repeatedly asked, "Do the government and ruling party see workers only as lawbreakers to be punished?" and "Do they not hear the desperate cries of workers who want a safe cargo transport environment?" She continued, "The essence of politics lies in dialogue and compromise," adding, "Just because the president is a former prosecutor general does not justify a hardline approach focused solely on investigation and punishment. If the government intends to intimidate and suppress all citizens who do not comply with its words, that is oppressive politics," she criticized.

Spokesperson Kim said, "The Democratic Party today proposed a mediation plan to accept the government and ruling party's 'three-year extension of the sunset clause for the Safe Freight Rate System,'" and added, "In the face of the looming economic crisis, we must open space for dialogue and negotiation and heal conflicts. We hope the government and ruling party recall the past agreement with Cargo Solidarity and demonstrate bold politics by accepting the Democratic Party's mediation plan for an amicable resolution of the situation."