S.Korea truckers put an end to strike; gov’t agrees to extend pay guarantee
The eight-day strike has delayed cargo shipments for industries from autos to petrochemicals and spirits in the export-heavy nation, and has cost South Korea’s industry more than $1.2 billion in lost output and unfilled deliveries, as per the industry ministry.
On Tuesday, South Korea’s unionised truckers and the transport ministry has reached a tentative agreement, on minimum pay guarantees in a late night deal, putting an end to a nationwide strike that crippled ports and industrial hubs, the two parties said.
The eight-day strike has delayed cargo shipments for industries from autos to petrochemicals and spirits in the export-heavy nation, and cost South Korea’s industry more than $1.2 billion in lost output and unfilled deliveries, as said by the industry ministry.
The latest round of talks were conducted at a major industrial transport hub near the capital, where Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong earlier warned the government may step in and force truckers to return to work or face jail.
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“The Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union will immediately return to work, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport will make utmost efforts so that truckers can return to work…” the union said in a statement.
In a different statement, the transport ministry said it will work with parliament on extending minimum pay guarantee and review expanding fuel subsidies and support “in order to ease truckers’ difficulties from recent rise in oil prices”.
The trucker strike had cost the South Korean auto industry about 5,400 vehicles in lost production, worth around 257 billion won as of Sunday, as per the industry ministry.