What Is the Impact of the Parcel Delivery Workers' General Strike Triggered by the Low-Bed Truck Ban Controversy?

On the 19th, near an apartment complex in Godeok-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, where delivery vehicle access within the complex is restricted, members of the National Courier Workers' Union set up a tent urging the resolution of delivery issues. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] As the National Courier Workers' Union has decided on a partial strike refusing delivery mainly of fresh food products, concerns are emerging that if the strike prolongs, it could place a burden on some of the courier companies' same-day delivery systems.

According to the courier industry on the 8th, the union approved the strike with a 77% approval rate in a vote held among its members the previous day.

The union is demanding a resolution to the ban on courier vehicles entering apartment complexes designed as ground-level parks and is urging courier companies and the Ministry of Employment and Labor to establish countermeasures.

First, the union plans to minimize public inconvenience by conducting a partial strike involving 2,000 union members rather than a full strike. To this end, they plan to refuse delivery mainly of fresh food products, which account for about 10% of the total courier volume. The timing of the strike will be decided by the union chairman.

The union emphasized that due to the recent trend of apartment complexes being converted into parks, additional delivery fees are unnecessary when courier workers deliver using low-floor vehicles.

A survey on musculoskeletal disorders conducted on 319 courier workers operating only low-floor vehicles revealed that 69% to 94% of them are engaged in tasks that put strain on their musculoskeletal systems.

The courier industry expects no immediate disruption in deliveries following the union's strike approval but expressed concerns that if labor-management conflicts prolong, the likelihood of additional delivery delays could increase.

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