SoKor Truckers Vote TO End Strike For Higher Pay

South Korean truckers voted to end their strike on Friday as it entered a third week with public support waning and the government refusing to budge, saying the action had caused "astronomical" damage to the economy, Ju-min Park and Heekyong Yang reported for Reuters.

Photo Insert: On Friday, the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union said that 62% of union members voted to call off the strike but that the union would continue its minimum wage campaign.

Many businesses prepared for the strike, which began Nov. 24, and were ready to weather short-term pain.

And as the government increased pressure - including unprecedented "start work" orders - some of the more than 25,000 striking truckers headed back to work this week, realizing that their bid to widen and make permanent a government scheme on minimum freight rates was failing.

On Friday, the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union said that 62% of union members voted to call off the strike but that the union would continue its minimum wage campaign.

"The game is over. It is so sad that all we could do is stop our cars, but nothing has changed," said Kang Myung-gil, a container truck driver who came back to work on Monday after a two-week walkout. Drivers said they faced the prospect of not only lost income but lost jobs as the strike was prolonged.

"The union fell into a trap that the government buried," said Kang, who is not a union driver, referring to the government narrative that the strike was devastating the country's economy, the world 10th largest.

"Then, we, living day by day, just have to accept the reality and move on," he said. After the strike ended, President Yoon Suk-yeol's press secretary Kim Eun-hye said the government would "unwaveringly abide by laws and principles" on labor issues. She said the strike had caused "astronomical damage" to the economy, Minwoo Park and Choonsik Yoo also reported for Reuters.

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