Cargo Solidarity Declares Full-Scale Struggle Over Fatal Accident, Draws Crowd of 9,000

The Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union has been holding large-scale rallies day after day in response to a recent fatal accident involving its members.

On the morning of April 20, a 2.5-ton cargo truck struck union members participating in a rally in front of the CU Jinju Logistics Center in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do. As a result, one union member in his 50s was killed, while two others sustained serious and minor injuries, respectively.

The accident is presumed to have occurred as union members attempted to block logistics vehicles from leaving during rallies that had been ongoing since April 5. The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency has formed a special task force to investigate the incident.

Banner hung near the Cargo Solidarity Union rally site in front of CU Jinju Logistics Center, Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju City, Gyeongnam Province. [Photo by Cargo Solidarity Union]

Following the accident, Cargo Solidarity has continued with press conferences, daily morning and afternoon brief rallies, memorials for the deceased, and marches.

On April 25, the group held a “Cargo Solidarity Full-Scale Struggle Resolution Rally” in front of the CU Jinju Logistics Center, demanding punishment for those responsible, a thorough investigation into the incident, and agreements in collective bargaining.

Cargo Solidarity stated, “We engrave in our hearts the urgent resolve that we, too, could be the next fallen member,” and added, “The blood shed by our martyr has united the anger of 450,000 cargo workers, and the martyr’s final cry has become our battle anthem.”

The group further claimed, “On the day our martyr passed away, management filed a court injunction to prohibit obstruction of work,” and insisted, “They are now denying and reversing even the hard-won negotiations.”

They also called for the restoration of the deceased member’s honor, punishment for those responsible, and for BGF Logistics—the logistics subsidiary of BGF Retail, which operates CU convenience stores—to actively participate in negotiations and agreements.

The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity Headquarters is holding a full-scale struggle resolution rally in front of the CU Jinju Logistics Center in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam.
[Photo by Cargo Solidarity]

According to the organizers, approximately 9,000 union members and the bereaved family of the deceased participated in this event, honoring the deceased and declaring a full-scale struggle.

On this day, Cargo Solidarity announced its future course of action, labeled “Struggle Directive No. 1.”

Under these directives, all regional headquarters executive committees of Cargo Solidarity will be reorganized into “regional struggle headquarters,” and every union member will enter a state of struggle by wearing protest vests and mourning ribbons.

As soon as the chairman’s directive is issued, all union members are to stop work at all sites and gather for an “emergency general assembly of Cargo Solidarity.”

A representative from the Cargo Solidarity Headquarters of the Public Transport Union of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is chanting slogans at the all-out struggle resolution rally. [Photo by Cargo Solidarity]

Additionally, after a first meeting with BGF Logistics on April 22 to commence working-level negotiations, Cargo Solidarity held two rounds of talks through April 26 but has yet to reach an agreement.

During the negotiations, the union reportedly demanded the following: adjustment of freight rates to reflect reality, guaranteed days off for delivery drivers, complete withdrawal of damages claims and legal liabilities, and an apology along with restoration of honor for the deceased union member.

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