The flames of labor activism that have persisted since the death of a union member at the CU logistics center in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, are still burning. A meeting was held where the Cargo Union Headquarters under the Korea Democratic Federation of Labor and BGF Logistics, a logistics subsidiary, sat again at the negotiation table to exchange their positions. According to news from the labor sector on the 24th, the dialogue that began around 2 PM yesterday in a hotel conference room in Uichang-gu, Changwon City, concluded at 6:34 PM. Both sides met formally for the first time at the Jinju Branch of the Ministry of Employment and Labor on the 22nd, and then attempted their first substantive negotiation in Daejeon. However, after two days, they parted ways empty-handed, failing to find a concrete point of agreement in this meeting.
Five representatives attended the meeting from the Cargo Union side, including Chairman Kim Jong-in of the Policy Negotiation Committee and Vice-Chairman Choi Sam-young. On the BGF Logistics side, three staff members, including a logistics team leader and a professional labor lawyer, were present. Amidst a tense atmosphere, just before the end of the negotiations at 6:30 PM, fierce shouting could be heard coming from outside the conference room. This is analyzed as a result of the narrow gap in positions and urgent psyches between both sides. The company side approached this meeting not as a simple substantive negotiation but as a 'consultation,' drawing a clear line regarding the rights of users.
Before the negotiations, the Cargo Union held a press conference in front of the Jinju CU logistics center earlier today to strongly condemn the company's attitude. The Cargo Union pointed out that BGF Logistics filed an application for a preliminary injunction to prohibit work disruption just one day after the start of negotiations. They criticized the company's actions as "an act that betrays goodwill, even denying the dialogue that has already taken place," and are demanding the withdrawal of the company's legal measures. In particular, regarding the company's approach of downplaying the nature of the negotiations, the Cargo Union reiterated its appeal to create a venue for sincere dialogue. Both sides tried to find a narrow space between the company's management rights and workers' rights, but the fundamental friction remained unresolved.
Both the labor and management sides agreed to hold another substantive negotiation on the 26th, but the atmosphere is one of dissatisfaction with the result of this negotiation. The Cargo Union stated that they will continue their struggle until the company withdraws its application for a preliminary injunction and fulfills sincere negotiations. This is not merely a failed negotiation, but an opportunity for workers to once again confirm the reason they must fight for their rights. It is a critical time when efforts are urgently needed to resolve the unstable employment structure and safety issues in the logistics industry.