[Green Economy News = Reporter Kim Ji-mun] On the 20th, a company-supplied replacement vehicle struck protesters from the Cargo Solidarity union, killing one person and injuring three.
At about 10:30 a.m. at CU's Jinju logistics center in South Gyeongsang Province, four members of the Cargo Solidarity Gyeongnam regional branch — who were demanding direct negotiations with the primary contractor — were hit by a replacement vehicle the company had deployed. A union member in his 50s, identified as Mr. Seo, died in the incident. About 50 union members had been picketing to block replacement workers and vehicles while pressing for direct talks. Video footage shows the company vehicle, while making a left turn, drive into the protesters. Under labor law, deploying replacement workers to break a strike is illegal, and case law holds that some uses of replacement labor can be unlawful even in disputes involving contractor–subcontractor relationships.
In a statement, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions said drivers have logged more than 12 hours a day to serve convenience stores that operate around the clock. They work dangerous night and early-morning shifts and perform tasks beyond transport — loading at logistics centers, unloading and stocking stores, and handling customer complaints — while receiving low pay. The union added that when workers fell ill and had to miss work, they were sometimes forced to cover the cost of replacement vehicles themselves.
Cargo Solidarity declared an emergency mobilization. Police say they expect large numbers of union members to converge on the CU Jinju logistics center and have heightened their readiness. The union vowed, “We will hold those responsible for our comrade’s death to account and break the structures that produced this death,” and called for an all-out struggle.
Cargo Solidarity’s emergency mobilization comes as the KCTU plans to hold an “Emergency Press Conference to Condemn Murderous Company CU BGF Retail” at 12:30 p.m. on the 21st at CU BGF Retail’s headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, where it will announce its protest strategy.
