화물연대 총파업 돌입… 정부 “불법 행동하면 엄단”
Unionized truckers in South Korea are on strike.
They’re demanding that freight fares be raised because of soaring fuel prices… eating into their pay.
The government is warning, however, that any illegal actions will result in prosecution.
Kim Yeon-seung reports.
Unionized truckers in South Korea began their strike at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday…demanding a hike in freight fares.
With diesel prices skyrocketing, truckers say that it’s impossible to maintain a living.
The truckers’ main demand is for the government to extend the Safe Trucking Freight Rates System, which guarantees minimum freight rates.
After a three-year run, that system is due to expire on the last day of this year.
But after failing to reach a mutual agreement with the government, the Cargo Truckers Solidarity announced it will go on strike until its demands are met.
On 10 AM Tuesday, union members nationwide held the strike’s official launch ceremony.
The government estimates that more than a third of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity joined the movement on the first day.
But more may join in the coming days, as there are around 25-thousand union members in total.
After the ceremony, the protesters proceeded to block the entry ways to major ports and logistics terminals.
The strike is disrupting shipments in several places, including the terminal in Uiwang Gyeonggi-do Province and cement factories in Chungcheongbuk-do and Gangwon-do provinces, and Hyundai Steel’s Pohang factory.
But the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs says this isn’t currently seen as a major setback.
But should the strike continue, the damage may snowball.
The presidential office had already said that it would sternly respond to any illegal actions.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo had called the strike a burden to the public and the nation’s economy.
Kim Yeon-seung, Arirang News
#SouthKorea #cargo_truckers #general_strike
2022-06-07, 19:00 (KST)
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