From Threats to Physical Fights... CJ Taekbae, 'Nojo-Binojo' Conflict Reaches Peak

Some Union Members Fear Retaliation
Want to Stop Strike but Still Participate
Some Dealerships Continue Suspension

On the 28th, delivery volumes piled up at the CJ Logistics Seongnam Terminal in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, as CJ Logistics delivery workers affiliated with the National Courier Workers' Union launched an indefinite general strike to urge 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 Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

As the strike by CJ Logistics delivery workers' union shows signs of prolonged duration, conflicts between union members and non-union members are reaching a peak. In the Seoul metropolitan area, including Bundang, Incheon, Gunpo, and Seongnam, union members have been threatening non-union delivery drivers by mentioning disadvantages, and in some branches, physical altercations have even occurred between the two sides, indicating that the conflict between union and non-union members due to the strike has reached a serious level.

According to the delivery industry on the 6th, at CJ Logistics Bundang B Terminal, it is openly rumored that "if you do not join the union, you cannot work as a delivery driver." At this terminal, out of 73 delivery drivers, 70 are members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) National Delivery Workers' Union. A union member A belonging to Bundang B Terminal expressed, "Even if I want to stop participating in the strike for my livelihood, I cannot go out because I am afraid of retaliation."

The situation is similar at a CJ Logistics agency in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. A non-union delivery driver B working there recently received threats forcing union membership and said, "I can't endure it any longer, so I quit," and left the company.

The problem is that retaliation from the union begins when a union member applies for withdrawal. A representative of the CJ Logistics Delivery Agency Federation said, "If a delivery driver joins the KCTU National Delivery Workers' Union CJ Logistics Headquarters, the driver receives benefits such as Saturday off or early dispatch. However, the moment they withdraw, the union threatens to file criminal charges, claiming that the benefits received so far have caused losses to the company." It is reported that some union members in various regions are afraid of such threats and cannot easily decide to withdraw, reluctantly participating in the strike.

There have also been cases where the nature of the conflict between union members has escalated into physical clashes. At a CJ Logistics agency in Incheon, a recent physical fight broke out during the loading process between union members, non-union delivery drivers, and the branch manager (agency owner). Branch manager C said, "While union members were on strike, there was a shortage of manpower, so we were preparing deliveries together with non-union drivers. Suddenly, a union member interfered with the loading work and caused injuries requiring two weeks of medical treatment. We plan to file a criminal complaint soon."

As the strike prolongs, the areas experiencing delivery disruptions are expanding. Some agencies in regions such as Gwangju and Seongnam in Gyeonggi Province, Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, and Changwon are still suspending order acceptance and are unable to receive new items. Although CJ Logistics headquarters has dispatched direct delivery drivers to support the shortage of manpower, even this is insufficient.

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