Unionized car transport drivers hold a sit-in rally before a walkout, calling for the raising of transportation fees amid soaring oil prices, in front of Busan Economic Promotion Agency, Busan, Monday. Truckers and bus operators also plan to go on strike this week. / Yonhap |
By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
The trade union of truckers said it will hold a strike as planned as the government's latest steps to alleviate the rise in oil price hikes are insufficient to help cover their losses.
The government last week said it will shoulder 50 percent of the increase in oil prices for truckers and bus drivers as part of a 10-billion-dollar package to help people cope with surging energy costs.
The Korea Cargo Transport Workers' Federation voted for a strike Monday. Truckers are criticizing the government measures as, ``makeshift.'' The union will decide exactly when to hold the strike after discussions with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), one of the largest labor umbrella groups, today.
On top of truckers, cement mixer and other construction-related drivers at construction firms plan to go on strike from June 16 as planned by the KCTU.
``The government's latest steps excluded construction-related workers. We are going to strike as planned,'' the union of construction workers said in a statement.
Bus companies will also join in the strike if the government will not accomodate their demands.
They have five demands; an increase in bus fares, refund of diesel fuel tax, more subsidies, autonomy on cutting bus routes, and the adjustment of bus rates in accordance with inflation.
They plan to cut the frequency of their operations and curtail driving routes by about one third and then by 50 percent from July. Other unions of dump truck drivers and cement mixers have already decided to go on a strike on the same day. If the unions take collective action, it will be the biggest strike since 2003.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr
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무디스, 스페인·伊·포르투갈 신용등급 강등
