[Reporter’s Notebook] Why Bitterness Remains Despite the Resolution of the HiteJinro Labor Dispute

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The conflict between HiteJinro and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity over damage compensation lawsuits and transportation fee increases has been resolved through a labor-management agreement. Given the prolonged standoff and accumulating losses, reaching any agreement is a positive outcome for both sides. However, despite the dramatic resolution before Chuseok, a bitter aftertaste remains. This is because the result came as HiteJinro agreed to accept most of the terms demanded by the Cargo Solidarity.

The management accepted demands including withdrawing damage compensation lawsuits against union members, lifting provisional seizures, and dropping civil and criminal complaints. Regarding the reinstatement of union members, both sides agreed to terminate contracts of only some responsible parties involved in the incident. Although a firm commitment to prevent recurrence was set as a precondition, it remains uncertain whether such promises will be upheld if conflicts arise again.

Most of the agreement terms proposed by Cargo Solidarity were accepted, but the process leading up to this is also problematic. Since launching a full strike in June, Cargo Solidarity repeatedly occupied the HiteJinro factory entrances with trucks, obstructing transportation and engaging in illegal activities. When their demands were not easily met, protests became increasingly aggressive, culminating in a fatal accident where a driver collided with an illegally parked truck in front of the Icheon factory. Despite this, Cargo Solidarity later staged a surprise occupation of HiteJinro’s headquarters, maintaining a sit-in for 24 days. These blatant illegal acts occurred without consequence, as HiteJinro ultimately surrendered, resulting in no accountability. This effectively grants a pardon to the militant union’s illegal actions and risks instilling a mistaken belief that illegal acts are acceptable to achieve demands.

Although this incident sets a poor precedent, such occurrences must not continue in the future. While it is important for companies to respond firmly to illegal acts, the government must also swiftly and strictly exercise public authority against illegal activities. Only then can the cycle of recurring illegal strikes, which happen repeatedly at certain times, be broken.

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