Cargo Solidarity Union Begins Vote to Decide Whether to Withdraw General Strike

On the morning of the 9th, members of the Cargo Solidarity Gwangju Headquarters are participating in a vote on ending the general strike and returning to the site at the Jingok Freight Public Garage in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which had launched a strike demanding the expansion of items covered by the Safe Freight Rate System, has begun a vote to decide whether to call off the general strike.

According to labor sources on the 9th, the Cargo Solidarity started a vote among all union members at 9 a.m. to decide whether to withdraw the general strike. The results of the vote are expected to be announced after 12 p.m. on the same day.

The Cargo Solidarity initiated the general strike on the 24th of last month, demanding the expansion of items covered by the Safe Freight Rate System and the abolition of sunset clauses. However, the government’s firm response day after day has been assessed to have weakened the momentum of the strike.

The day before, the Cargo Solidarity held a Central Executive Committee meeting at the KCTU Daejeon Headquarters to discuss whether to call off the strike but failed to reach a conclusion. Therefore, they decided to conduct a vote among all union members to ask for their opinions. In a statement released the previous day, the Cargo Solidarity said, "If the members decide, we will immediately return to the field and faithfully participate in the discussions within the National Assembly."

However, regardless of whether the strike is called off, they plan to continue pressing their demands to the government and the ruling party. Additionally, they intend to hold the government accountable through the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding the government’s order to resume work.