Fair Trade Commission imposes 100 billion won fine on Ulsan Port Dockworkers Union for obstructing competing union's cargo handling

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Haeyoung] The Ulsan Port Workers' Union, which had virtually monopolized the supply of labor at Ulsan docks, was fined 10 million won for obstructing the work of a competing union.

The Fair Trade Commission announced on the 17th that it imposed a corrective order and a fine of 10 million won on the Ulsan Port Workers' Union for obstructing the Onsan Port Workers' Union, a newly established union, from carrying out ship cargo handling operations.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, on January 21, 2019, the stevedoring company Global signed a contract with the Onsan Union and requested work. However, from around 3 p.m. that day, the Ulsan Union blocked the dock access route using protest tents, Starex vehicles, and its union members. As a result, Onsan Union members could not enter the dock, halting the work. The cargo owner, Sejin Heavy Industries, terminated the transportation contract with Global and requested work from another stevedoring company, whose workers were members of the Ulsan Union. Global terminated the labor supply contract with the Onsan Union on the condition of providing monetary compensation.

The Ulsan Union has virtually monopolized labor supply at Ulsan area ports since it was authorized to supply workers in 1980. According to the Employment Security Act, only union members authorized to supply labor can work at ports. However, when the Onsan Union obtained authorization for labor supply from the Busan Regional Labor Office Ulsan branch, a competitive structure between the two unions emerged in Ulsan. The Ulsan Union obstructed business activities after the Onsan Union signed a contract with Global in July 2016.

According to the Fair Trade Commission, the Onsan Union later filed a damages lawsuit related to the termination of the contract with Global. Following mediation by the Busan High Court, Global and the Onsan Union agreed to a two-year contract starting January 21, 2019. However, from the first day of the contract, the Ulsan Union staged protests, preventing work from proceeding.

A Fair Trade Commission official stated, "As a result of this incident, the Onsan Union lost its business partner and found it more difficult to sign contracts with new operators. Since labor supply operators who have no performance for the past year may have their authorization revoked, there is a risk that the Onsan Union could be driven out of the market, which is why this sanction was imposed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.