Logistics Flow Increases to 90 percent at Busan Port

Logistics flow at major ports went back to the normal level as members from Cargo Transport Workers’ Union return to their work. Container flow at Pusan port recovered to 92.8 percent of a normal level Thursday, according to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. Container flow at Kwangyang port and Kyeongin Inland Container Depot rose to 87.9 percent and 86.9 percent of their normal levels, respectively. The ministry announced that 806 out of 1163 Bulk Cement Trailer drivers, who belong to Cargo Transport Workers’ Union, have returned to their work and 41 percent of container drivers in the union also returned to work.

The container industry moved to cancel contracts with container drivers who were not returning to their work. It informed 116 drivers of contracts cancellation on Thursday and additional 243 drivers will face cancellation of their contracts by Sunday. With more truck drivers returning to their work, combative members of Cargo Transport Workers’ Union are expected to make attempts to disrupt normal transport operations. The government is working to give returned truck drivers temporary license plates and not to charge car insurance fees for their damaged trucks.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy announced that the strike of truck and container drivers cost businesses $507 million in delays of transportation and shipments of exporting freights. According to the ministry, with more truck drivers returning to work, the damage is decreasing everyday. But the protracted strike is forecast to put companies under strain regarding their notes from Friday.

Meanwhile, tensions are escalating over the standoff between the police and members from Cargo Transport Workers’ Union as the police is trying to seize and search Seoul and Pusan branches of the Korea Confederation of Trade Unions to arrest leaders of the union. The union argued that the government is misleading the public by falsely announcing the number of returned workers and container flow rates.

The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions decided to fully support the Cargo Transport Workers’ Union at its meeting on Wednesday. In the meeting with the press Thursday, organizations such as Peoples Solidarity Network and Democratic Labor party expressed oppositions to the police’s move and urged the government to engage in negotiations with truck workers in a sincere manner.

Kyung-Joon Chung Jae-Seong Hwang news91@donga.com jsonhng@donga.com