By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
Unionized truck drivers in North Jeolla Province went on strike Tuesday ahead of a general strike on June 13 by its umbrella group the Korean Transport Workers' Union.
Some truckers of Hansol CSN and other companies in the southwestern province launched an indefinite strike from 6.00 am, bringing a complete halt to shipping-related transport works in the port of Gunsan.
Trade unions of railway, airline, bus and taxi companies are also planning to join the strike once the Korean Confederation of Trade Union (KCTU) votes for a strike scheduled for June 16. KCTU's voting on a general strike runs until June 14.
The strike by truckers comes as the association of bus and tax companies threatened to cut their operations to protest against what they call insufficient government steps to counter rising oil prices. Seoul taxi and bus companies are calling for raises in rates.
The Seoul Private Taxi Driver Association is asking the city government to raise the basic fare from 1,900 won ($1.9) to over 3,000 won. ``It has been more than three years since we raised taxi fares. The price of LPG has soared and hikes in fares are unavoidable,'' Um Seong-seob of the association said.
Bus drivers are threatening to join the strike unless the government listens to their demands.
``We are suffering from severe financial deficit, we will take ultimate action if the city government does not come up with proper countermeasures,'' the bus drive associate said.
The city government, however, is sticking to its stance that there will be no changes in taxi and bus fares. ``The drivers should take some part of the difficulties experienced by the rise in oil prices,'' a Seoul city official said.