The 'Struggle Omnipotence' of Unions Creating Their Own 'Anti-Labor Sentiment'

Conflict Between Eul Parties Leads to Dealer's Death
Growing Criticism of KCTU Over Illegal Rallies
"No Path to Coexistence Through Gap-Eul Frame"

On the morning of the 1st, a portrait was placed at the incense altar of Mr. A, a delivery agency owner in his 40s, set up at a courier company terminal in Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do. Mr. A left a will blaming the labor union and took his own life on the 30th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] The death of a delivery agency owner in his 40s has exposed the harsh realities of platform labor and fueled anti-union sentiment.

According to labor circles on the 3rd, this incident has brought to light the conflict between agency owners and delivery workers, who are on the front lines of disputes within the indirect contract structure linking delivery companies, delivery agencies, and delivery workers. Currently, primary delivery companies sign subcontracting contracts with agencies, and agencies enter consignment contracts with delivery workers. Delivery workers, classified as special employment workers, receive commissions set by the agencies based on their work. Responsibilities such as commission distribution and delivery zone allocation with delivery workers are shifted to the agencies, while the primary delivery companies claim they have no contractual relationship with the delivery workers and thus avoid involvement in conflicts. As a result, the ‘Eul and Eul’ (both subordinate parties) relationship between agency owners and delivery workers inevitably leads to ongoing disputes. Furthermore, even if unionized delivery workers engage in collective action and stop working, agency owners have no proper means to enforce work. With the surge in non-face-to-face consumption due to COVID-19, the delivery industry is experiencing intense conflicts over increased workloads, sorting tasks, and delivery zone allocation.

A representative issue revealed after Lee (42), who operated a CJ Logistics delivery agency in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, took his own life on the 30th of last month. The deceased Lee reportedly suffered mental stress due to mockery, ridicule, and refusal to perform delivery duties by union members. It is known that Lee specifically listed the names of 12 members of the National Delivery Workers’ Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who he said tormented him in his suicide note.

The Delivery Workers’ Union also admitted at a press conference the day before that "some union members posted content in group chat rooms that could cause personal humiliation to the deceased. There were posts protesting against the agency owner as well as mocking and ridiculing content." However, the union claimed that the CJ Logistics Gimpo branch manager was involved in causing agency owner Lee to give up running the agency. As evidence, the union released a recorded phone call in which the CJ Logistics Gimpo branch manager allegedly said he tried to "remove Lee from the agency owner position." In explaining this, the union disclosed Lee’s personal debt situation, drawing criticism for secondary victimization. Lee’s bereaved family stated, "This is a disgraceful act insulting the deceased’s death," and "It is an unforgivable act that will inevitably lead to legal accountability."

On the same day, criticism also arose over the actions of Yang Kyung-soo, chairman of the KCTU, who was arrested for illegal assembly, and the KCTU itself. The KCTU characterized Yang’s arrest as an "attack on the KCTU" and a "declaration of war," using it as momentum for the general strike planned for October. The KCTU is preparing a large-scale general strike scheduled for the 20th of next month, aiming for participation from all 1.1 million union members. This is a key pledge of Chairman Yang, who was elected at the end of last year. From that day, the KCTU began striking with expanded executives from affiliated and subordinate unions. This involves union full-time officials but does not include work stoppage. Eight KCTU executives shaved their heads in a show of strong resistance against the government, and the arrested Chairman Yang reportedly began a hunger strike to encourage the general strike.

A labor official said, "With the rise of the platform economy, clinging to the old ‘gap-eul’ (dominant-subordinate) framework will not allow for seeking coexistence in labor-management and tripartite relations," adding, "If union leadership insists only on struggle without resolving current issues through negotiations, they will inevitably become isolated."

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