Will South Korea's truckers' strike widen?
The South Korea truck drivers' unlimited strike action, which began a full week ago, is continuing. The ITF-affiliated Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union Cargo Truckers’ Solidarity Division (KPTU-Trucksol), estimates that 15,000 members started the strike rallies held in 16 locations across the country, and several thousand more drivers have now joined the strike in solidarity.
The impact of the strike is being felt throughout the country at ports, petrochemical complexes and other logistics hubs, where freight transport has slowed or stopped all together. Most of Korea’s 420,000 owner truck drivers, out of which 6% are organised in unions, have seen their earnings dwindle since the beginning of the year due to rising fuel prices and cost of living.
The drivers want to preserve South Korea’s "safe rates" system, minimum rates of pay calculated based on operating costs, which is scheduled to be phased out at the end of this year. The action has paralysed ports and cargo terminals in South Korea - a major supplier of autos, batteries, semiconductors, smart phones and electronics goods - and is further stretching global supply chains. (sh)