[Diesel Exhaust Fluid Crisis] Bus, Cargo, and Machinery Unions "Can't Live Like This"... Protest in Front of Cheongwadae

Dump truck, ready-mix concrete truck, and excavator construction machinery workers are urging for a resolution to the urea solution shortage crisis that threatens their livelihoods during a press conference hosted by the National Construction Workers' Union in front of the Government Seoul Office Building on the morning of the 9th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Industry workers whose livelihoods are threatened by the shortage of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) have taken collective action, urging the government to implement countermeasures.

Heo I-jae, Chairperson of the National Chartered Bus Labor Union, said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 10th, "The DEF shortage had signs several weeks ago, but the government failed to respond promptly. Although DEF is being urgently imported from overseas, the supply is barely manageable for even a few days. If this continues, we will have to worry about our livelihoods." The Chartered Bus Union held a press conference in front of the Blue House Sarangchae that morning, demanding a resolution to the DEF issue.

The Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers' Union (KPTU) declared a continuous strike at the end of this month together with the National Railroad Workers' Union. The Cargo Solidarity claims that the increased price of DEF is being passed on to the workers. Lee Bong-ju, Chairperson of the Cargo Solidarity, said, "If proper policies are not established, workers will be forced into overwork, speeding, and overloading to cover the transferred costs, risking their lives on the roads." Since the day before, the Cargo Solidarity has been staging a sit-in protest in front of the National Assembly, demanding the full expansion of the safe freight rate system and the abolition of the sunset clause from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The National Construction Workers' Union also appealed, saying, "If the government fails to resolve the DEF crisis, we will drive equipment to the front of the Blue House with the last remaining DEF and stop there," emphasizing the urgency of the situation. Kim Jeong-seok, a dump truck driver, said, "The DEF we currently have will run out within 2 to 3 days. Then, the livelihood of my family with three children will come to a complete halt." According to a survey conducted by the Construction Union on the 7th and 8th targeting 253 union members, 32.4% of respondents said they had experienced equipment downtime due to the DEF issue. Those attempting overseas direct purchases through the internet and other means accounted for 43.5%. The Construction Union claimed, "One dump truck requires an average of 12 to 13 bottles of 10 liters of DEF per month, but with the soaring DEF prices, the monthly cost for DEF alone can reach up to approximately 800,000 KRW."

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