"Delivery Workers' Union Demands Measures from Hanjin Amid Livelihood Threat Due to Coupang Logistics Withdrawal"

"Resolution Rally and General Strike on the 29th"

At 11 a.m. on the 25th, the National Courier Workers' Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Service Federation held a "Declaration of All-Out Struggle Press Conference" in front of the Hanjin Courier headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul.
Photo by Oh Gyumin moh011@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] Delivery workers are demanding dialogue with the company and urging measures after their livelihoods were threatened due to a large volume of shipments that Coupang entrusted to Hanjin Delivery being withdrawn.

On the morning of the 25th, the National Delivery Workers' Union of the Service Federation of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) held a "Declaration of All-Out Struggle Press Conference" in front of Hanjin Delivery headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, announcing this. The Delivery Workers' Union demanded that the company come up with countermeasures by the 29th and said they would not hesitate to hold a rally and a general strike.

Kim Hyeongju, head of the Hanjin Geoje branch who has been working in delivery for 10 years, said, "Today is payday, but the amount deposited in my bank account is about 2.1 million won. After deducting VAT, it’s about 1.9 million won. Recently, I had to cancel the academies my children attend. After this press conference, I have to go to the bank to look into loans."

He continued, "After working hard, I have to go to the bank to borrow money. If this situation continues, it will ultimately be a reality where you go bankrupt while working. It is desperate and unbearably difficult. I earnestly ask Hanjin Delivery to come up with measures."

Kim Taewan, senior vice chairman of the Delivery Workers' Union, said, "Hanjin, by signing a contract with Coupang, has brought about a situation where there are no countermeasures even if the volume is withdrawn at any time. Even after the incident occurred, they only offered half-measures to delivery workers facing a survival crisis, saying they would 'fill the volume through sales.'"

According to the Delivery Workers' Union, Coupang entrusted 7 million shipments to Hanjin Delivery earlier this year but announced that most of the volume would be delivered by itself. Since April, 3.6 million shipments have been withdrawn, and the union claims that commissions have effectively been halved due to this, insisting that the company, responsible for the sales failure, must come up with countermeasures.

It is claimed that among 8,000 Hanjin Delivery workers, about 1,000 in 65 regions have been affected. Considering agency commissions, VAT, vehicle maintenance costs, and fuel expenses, the union explains that the income does not even reach the minimum wage level.

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