Over 1,700 CJ Taekbae Delivery Workers Begin Indefinite Strike Starting Today

Departure Ceremony at 10 Delivery Terminals
Non-Union Members Campaign for Compliance with Product Regulations

On the 28th, CJ Logistics delivery workers affiliated with the National Courier Workers' Union held a send-off rally for the indefinite general strike at the CJ Logistics Seongnam Terminal in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, urging the implementation of a social agreement to prevent death from overwork. Among the approximately 20,000 CJ Logistics delivery workers, about 2,500 are union members, and it is reported that around 1,700 union members with bargaining rights will participate in this strike. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Some delivery workers affiliated with CJ Logistics, which accounts for half of the courier market, have launched an indefinite strike.

The CJ Logistics branch of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' National Delivery Workers' Union (Delivery Union) held a send-off ceremony on the morning of the 28th at CJ Logistics' Seongnam Terminal in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, as well as at 10 delivery terminals nationwide including Busan, Daegu-Gyeongbuk, and Chungcheong. The Delivery Union stated, "Under the name of 'profitability improvement,' the management has ignored issues such as death from overwork, flawed standard contracts, and low-floor trucks. We announced a general strike in response, but the management distorts and criticizes the union's legitimate demands and refuses to engage in dialogue. To prevent public inconvenience caused by the strike and to properly implement social agreements, CJ Logistics should start talks with the union even now."

About 1,700 union members with the right to strike among approximately 20,000 CJ Logistics delivery workers are expected to participate in the strike. Members without strike rights and non-union supporters backing the strike plan to engage in a 'compliance with product regulations campaign' by refusing to deliver volumes that fall outside their product guidelines.

On the 28th, CJ Logistics delivery workers affiliated with the National Courier Workers' Union began an indefinite general strike to urge the implementation of a social agreement to prevent death from overwork. At the CJ Logistics Seongnam Terminal in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, non-union members and other related personnel were sorting packages. Among the approximately 20,000 CJ Logistics delivery workers, about 2,500 are union members, and it is reported that around 1,700 union members with bargaining rights will participate in this strike. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

The spark for the strike is the issue of additional profit distribution from the increase in delivery fees. The Delivery Union claims, "Out of the 170 won increase in April, CJ Logistics only used 51.6 won for the implementation of social agreements, while the rest was disguised as operating profit. From October, they excluded this 51.6 won from delivery workers' fees (wages), cutting their fees, and in January next year, they plan to raise fees by 100 won more, of which 70 to 80 won will be taken as the principal company's profit." In response, CJ Logistics rebutted, "Typically, about 50% of the total delivery fee is distributed to delivery workers as collection and delivery fees. When delivery fees increase, about 50% of the increase is also distributed to delivery workers." The company also explained that the actual increase in April was about 140 won, not 170 won.

CJ Logistics holds a 48% market share in the domestic courier market as of the third quarter (June to September) this year. Since the number of participants in the strike accounts for about 8.5% of all CJ Logistics delivery workers, the impact of the strike is considered limited. Although the possibility of a nationwide 'delivery chaos' is low, there are concerns about regional deliveries in areas such as Changwon, Seongnam in Gyeonggi, and Ulsan, where union membership rates are high. If the strike prolongs, the impact could spread sequentially to other regions during the peak delivery season at the end of the year and New Year. Some shopping malls have notified customers of possible delivery delays due to the strike or are temporarily redirecting shipments to other courier companies such as the post office.

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