Truckers Begin Strike Today

[Anchor]

Following the railway and subway workers’ unions, the Korean Cargo Transport Workers’ Union has also begun their strike today.

The Union is calling for the abolition of the government's plan for cargo transport market development, while the government is labeling it as an organized action without legitimacy.

Han Ji-yi has more.

[Reporter]

As previously warned, the Korean Cargo Transport Workers' Union began their strike at midnight today.

The Union claimed the government's plan for the development of the cargo transport sector, announced last August, as their cause for strike.

<Director Soo Yeol of Public Relations / Korean Cargo Transport Workers’ Union> “The government’s plan essentially incapacitates the entire system to regulate supply and demand, and will increase competition while lowering freight charges. To make up for this, overloading or overtime operations will become inevitable.”

At 11 a.m., the Union plans to hold opening ceremonies for the strike at the Uiwang Inland Container Depot, the new Busan Port, and the Busan North Port, requesting that the government come to the negotiation table.

However, the government labeled this strike as an illegal strike without legitimacy.

<Lee Seung-ho / Head of Transport and Cargo Department at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport> “The general members of the union are working hard in their workplaces based on cheap oil prices. Warning of another organized action, based on the incorrect judgment of a few hardliner executives, is collectivism disregarding the difficulties in the national economy….”

The government plans to respond strictly according to the law and principles. Drivers who refuse or obstruct transport will be suspended from receiving fuel subsidies for six months, have their licenses suspended or cancelled, or have their cargo transport license cancelled.

The government will hold a briefing at 2 p.m., where the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport will issue a statement related to the Union’s general strike.

Han Ji-yi reporting for Yonhap News TV.

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