The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korean shorthairs among favorite cat breeds as more people choose to adopt pets

  • 3

    Uhm Jung-hwa enjoys second heyday with JTBC series 'Doctor Cha'

  • 5

    Korea beats Nigeria to advance to semifinals at FIFA U-20 World Cup

  • 7

    4 Chinese, 4 Russian military planes enter Korea's air defense zone without notice

  • 9

    'The Second Husband' co-stars to the tie knot, expecting child in real life

  • 11

    ANALYSISS. Korean economy feared to follow in Japan's footsteps

  • 13

    Agency launched to offer exclusive support for overseas Koreans

  • 15

    Korea's export dependency on China dips below 20%

  • 17

    Stats agency to use Naver's AI chatbot to offer tailored data for firms

  • 19

    Toyota launches Crown CUV in Korea to boost sales

  • 2

    REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists

  • 4

    Tom Cruise to visit Korea to promote new film

  • 6

    3 EXO members file antitrust complaint against SM Entertainment

  • 8

    Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays

  • 10

    INTERVIEWKorean food undergoes renaissance in US

  • 12

    Korean food's global popularity leads to copycat products in China, Japan

  • 14

    Egyptian national arrested for possession of cannabis cookie

  • 16

    Retail investors bet on wrong horse despite KOSPI rally

  • 18

    Memorial event to be held for fallen Thai soldiers of Korean War

  • 20

    Retailers use recycled, biodegradable plastic to attract eco-conscious consumers

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Wed, June 7, 2023 | 23:55
Editorial
Truckers’ walkout
Posted : 2012-06-25 17:29
Updated : 2012-06-25 17:29
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Union, government should reach compromise quickly

Unionized truck drivers launched a walkout across the country from 7 a.m. Monday, raising fears of turmoil in cargo transportation for the first time in four years.

Despite the indefinite strike led by the Korean Cargo Transport Workers’ Union under the wing of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, few problems have as yet been reported concerning transportation. The truckers’ union said about 80 percent of 380,000 truckers all over the country would take part in the nationwide action but it was not immediately known how many took part on the first day.

The union, which has about 10,000 members, has made five demands of the government: improvements in the so-called standard freight charge system, a 30-percent increase in transportation fees, industrial accident compensation insurance for all truckers, tax exemption on fuel and the introduction of standardized contracts. At the heart of the latest dispute is the standard freight charge system, which the union claims benefits only large logistics companies.

Under the current system drivers, self-employed subcontractors, have to pay commission to logistics firms and middlemen every time they sign a deal to carry goods. The drivers are supposed to receive only 40 percent of the fee for each delivery. The government promised a better system in 2008, when the truckers last staged a strike. Yet there has been no change as the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs claims there are several problems in introducing a new system.

The government said in a joint statement Monday that it will take tough action against the strike, labeling it illegal. The strong stance stems in part from the worsening status of the global economy due to the eurozone debt crisis.

We feel sympathetic to trucker’s difficulty in making a living. Press reports have it that their average work hours amounted to 319 hours per month during the fourth quarter of last year. In contrast, their average income remained at about 1 million won a month. Prices of fuel, which account for nearly half of transportation costs, have surged 24 percent since 2008.

True, the government has not been swift in tackling the situation, given that there was enough time to settle the case through dialogue after the truckers voted to strike in February. The government should now make all-out efforts to minimize disruptions in cargo transportation by taking contingency measures.

What’s important is for truckers and the government to iron out a compromise at the earliest possible date. In the lead-up to the settlement, the truck drivers will have to avoid illegal acts such as occupying roads, taking into consideration that the success of the strike will depend in large part on public opinion.

In this respect, we are concerned that the unionized truckers may be behind serial arsons that set fire to tens of cargo trucks owned by non-union members in Gyeongsang Province early Sunday morning.
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays Asiana Airlines pilots union to initiate mass flight delays
2Korean food's global popularity leads to copycat products in China, Japan Korean food's global popularity leads to copycat products in China, Japan
3Egyptian national arrested for possession of cannabis cookie Egyptian national arrested for possession of cannabis cookie
4Presidential office's plan to revamp TV viewing fees causes stir Presidential office's plan to revamp TV viewing fees causes stir
5ROK-US alliance is now nuclear-based: President Yoon ROK-US alliance is now nuclear-based: President Yoon
6Samsung family takes out stock loans to pay inheritance tax Samsung family takes out stock loans to pay inheritance tax
7Incheon announces plans to become hub for overseas Koreans Incheon announces plans to become hub for overseas Koreans
8International Yoga Day to celebrate well-being of body, mind International Yoga Day to celebrate well-being of body, mind
9Controversy grows as fisheries ministry stresses safety of seafood, salt, beaches Controversy grows as fisheries ministry stresses safety of seafood, salt, beaches
10Hyundai Motor, IKEA join hands to promote sustainable outdoor activities Hyundai Motor, IKEA join hands to promote sustainable outdoor activities
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition Frieze Seoul unveils stronger lineup of Asian galleries for its second edition
2[REVIEW] 'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists REVIEW'The ODD Of LOVE' concert: Taeyeon shows why she is among K-pop's top vocalists
3Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition Baritone Kim Tae-han wins Queen Elisabeth Competition
4Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation Busan Film Festival accepts director Huh Moon-yung's resignation
5[INTERVIEW] 'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series INTERVIEW'One Day Off' star Lee Na-young, director on creating subtle, feel-good series
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group