South Korea’s striking truckers say no deal reached in government talks, forced return to work likely
- Estimated daily losses of US$224 million as supplies of cement and fuel run short
- It is likely that the government will legally force the strikers to return to work
South Korea failed to reach an agreement with a striking truckers’ union in the first session of talks on Monday, the fifth day of a nationwide walkout, the union said, as supply chain glitches worsen and concrete runs out at building sites.
The government, which estimates daily losses at about 300 billion won (US$224 million) as supplies of cement and fuel for gas stations run short, raised its warning of cargo transport disruption to the highest level.
The lack of a resolution for the second major strike in less than six months by thousands of truckers demanding better pay and working conditions makes it more likely that the government will legally compel the strikers to return to work.
“The transport ministry’s position today was that ‘There is nothing the ministry can answer,’” the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union (CTSU) said in a statement, adding that the next round of talks had been set for Wednesday.
The union said it had asked the government to withdraw steps toward issuing an “undemocratic and anti-constitutional” ‘work start order’”, adding that it would take a forward-looking stance on each request to reach an agreement.
The law allows use of such an order to tackle a serious transport disruption, and failure to comply can lead to punishments such as cancellation of trucker licences and three years in jail, or a fine of up to 30 million won (US$22,550).