Won Hee-ryong: "Collective Transport Refusal by Cargo Solidarity Invalidates Proposal to Extend Safe Freight Rate System by 3 Years"

Minister Won's Post on Facebook
Position Against Expanding Item List
Early Return and Post-Processing...

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Won Hee-ryong, Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, stated that the government and ruling party's proposal to extend the "Safe Freight Rate System" for three years has become invalid.

On the 9th, Minister Won posted on Facebook regarding the "position on the Cargo Solidarity's collective transport refusal withdrawal referendum," saying, "The Cargo Solidarity's claim for a three-year extension of the Safe Freight Rate System was proposed by the government and ruling party on November 22 to prevent national damage, but since the Cargo Solidarity began collective transport refusal on November 24, that proposal has become invalid."

Earlier, after deciding on a general vote among union members the previous day, the Cargo Solidarity stated, "We have made a magnanimous decision to prevent the expiration of the Safe Freight Rate System," and demanded, "The government and ruling party should keep the promise of a three-year extension of the Safe Freight Rate System announced through party-government consultations."

They also emphasized that broad discussions and evaluations on expanding the items covered by the Safe Freight Rate System should take place, urging the government and National Assembly to actively continue discussions and guarantee the participation of stakeholders, including the Cargo Solidarity.

However, Minister Won stressed, "The Cargo Solidarity is demanding discussions on expanding the items covered by the Safe Freight Rate System, but the government and ruling party's consistent position is that item expansion is not possible." This reiterated that there is no intention to accept the Cargo Solidarity's persistent demand for item expansion beyond the three-year extension of the Safe Freight Rate System.

Minister Won expressed regret, saying, "It is unfortunate that serious damage to the national economy and public inconvenience have been caused for 16 days, and only after two orders to resume work were issued has a belated discussion on returning to the field begun," and added, "I expect wise judgment from the members of the Cargo Solidarity in the general vote."

He also firmly stated, "The government's position of 'return first, then dialogue' is unwavering, and there can be no conditions attached to this."

If the vote supports withdrawal of the strike by a majority of participants, the Cargo Solidarity will end the strike after 16 days.

Previously, as the Cargo Solidarity's strike continued even after the government issued an order to resume work in the cement sector, the government pressured the Cargo Solidarity by additionally issuing orders to resume work in the steel and petrochemical sectors.

Regardless of the outcome of this strike withdrawal vote, the Cargo Solidarity repeatedly criticized the orders to resume work as unconstitutional oppression and stated their intention to hold the government accountable through the International Labour Organization (ILO) until the end.