SoKor Orders Striking Cement Haulers To Return To Work

South Korea ordered striking truckers in the cement industry to return to work on Tuesday, a first in the country’s labor history, as the rightwing government invoked tough strike-busting laws as construction sites run out of building materials nationwide, Heekyong Yang and Joyce Lee reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: “Please return to your positions before it's too late," President Yoon Suk-yeol told a cabinet meeting. "I will firmly establish the rule of law between labor and management during my term and will never compromise with illegality."

The second strike in less than six months over minimum pay is causing daily losses of an estimated 300 billion won ($224 million) and disrupting industrial activity in Asia's fourth-largest economy, which expects growth to slump next year.

Kim Jaewon of Nikkei Asia also reported that the government threatened the striking truckers with stiff fines and three-year jail terms if they do not comply.

“Please return to your positions before it's too late," President Yoon Suk-yeol told a cabinet meeting. "I will firmly establish the rule of law between labor and management during my term and will never compromise with illegality."

As the strike enters its sixth day, work has halted at more than 250 building sites, or about half of all sites, as supplies of concrete grow scarce, the government said.

The cement industry estimates a cumulative output loss of about 64 billion won ($47.81 million) as of Monday, lobby group Korea Cement Association said.

About 1,000 of roughly 2,500 bulk cement trailers are unionized, it said, but the industry had shipped just 10% of the usual daily shipments needed for the peak season from September to early December. Some non-union truckers also halted transport, it added.

Strike organizer Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union (CTSU) called the start-work order an "undemocratic and violent" violation of International Labor Organization's Abolition of Forced Labor Convention, and evidence of the government's unwillingness to engage in dialogue.

"The start-work order is equivalent to martial law for cargo workers. No, it's an order to die," it said, adding that its demands are meant to safeguard truckers working long hours while earning near minimum wage. The union plans to hold 16 rallies nationwide on Tuesday.

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