Truckers` Strike Shutting Down Plants Nationwide

With the Korean Cargo Workers Federation (KCWF) in Busan continuing their strike for the sixth day, other members in Ulsan and the Seoul metropolitan area joined the strike yesterday, spreading the logistics disaster all across the nation.

Therefore, some major plants in Ulsan, Busan and South Gyeongsang Province have stalled operation.

Furthermore, 1,500 Busan union members regrouped in Student Building of Busan University for sit-in, a move that is expected to push the wedge deeper between the two parties of the labor dispute.

▽ Busan University & Busan Port = The government has deployed more than ten companies of the riot police forces around Busan University. The Police Department spokesperson confirmed, "The demonstrators committed trespassing, and violated the laws regulating demonstration. We may send in the riot police to disperse the crowd." In the meanwhile, the school administration has requested the demonstrators to move out of the building and campus, and shut down the electricity.

The situation in Busan Port got better to some extent. Still, the yard was packed up with containers almost to capacity. Therefore, the normal level of operation was not possible. As of yesterday afternoon, eight wharves of Port Busan performed only 47.6% of the normal level. But the rate was higher than that of the previous day, or 32.1%.

▽ Ulsan Port = KCWF members in Ulsan joined the walkout yesterday, pulling down the level of operation to 20% of the normal.

The striking truckers parked 100 trucks at the entrance of Ulsan Port and started their walkout, which continued all day.

The authorities worry that more truckers will join the strike, although union members occupy only 13% (i.e. 520) of the total of 4,100 truckers in the area. Now, they are busy coming up with contingency plans.

▽ Strike in Seoul metro area = Two-day long strike in this area has almost paralyzed the cargo transportation on land in this metropolitan area.

For example, the walkout hit hard Samsung Electronics, Daewoo Electronics, and stalled normal operation of industrial complexes in Sihwa and Incheon.

Most of the union members in this region had a rally near the Uiwang Center, and promised not to transport cargo.

▽ Gwangyang Port = KCWF members in Gwanyang packed the roads to Gwangyang Port with some 200 trucks, refusing to deliver. It was their sixth day of strike. Only 40% of the containers came in and out of Gwangyang Port, foretelling an all-out paralysis of the port in the near future.

▽ Operation at stake = a sneakers maker in Busan had to stop its operation for the third day yesterday, with no materials left for production.

In addition, the strike was also pushing Changwon plant of LG Electronics in Changwon City and Ulsan plant of Taekwang more and more up against the wall. They may have to shut down the plants due to the failure of shipping out products overseas.

The Ministry of Defense deployed 35 more truck-driving solders yesterday upon request from the Ministry of Construction and Transportation and the Police Department.

In the meanwhile, the Cheongju Police Department arrested five people for obstruction of business operation. They blocked the passage of trucks carrying electronic parts on the highway. Three of the suspects were indicted without bail, while the other two were released on bond.