KPTU-TruckSol member run over, two more injured, after police forcibly break sit-down protest.
A Korean trade union member was killed on Monday after he was run over when police forcibly pushed workers engaged in a sit-down protest at a logistics centre in Southern Gyeongsan Province, Korea.
The KPTU-TruckSol member was taking part in a strike protest at a CU Logistics Centre, part of a strike action by TruckSol CU members which has been underway since April 5.
Two other TruckSol members were injured in the collision with a 2.5 tonne box truck replacement transport vehicle, which police present at the scene had allowed to depart. The union member was run over, and by the time he arrived at a local hospital his heart had stopped.
“This is an absolutely tragic death which simply should never have happened. Our movement has lost a trade unionist who was in the middle of peacefully and lawfully demanding that the rights of the workers he represents must be upheld,” said ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton.
ITF Regional Secretary for the Asia-Pacific, Scott McDine, said: “Our deepest condolences go out to our brother’s family, colleagues and friends, and to all the members of KPTU-TruckSol, who are understandably shocked, deeply saddened and angry at what has happened. It is vital that there is a serious investigation into precisely what has happened, and that anyone bearing responsibility is held to account.”
The strike action was against dire working conditions for truck drivers and a refusal to meet a request for collective bargaining by BGF Retail – which instead sought to worsen conditions further while also initiating damages suits against striking workers.
KPTU-TruckSol members delivering goods for convenience store chain, CU, work at the bottom of a three-tier contracting chain, with BGF Retail (the CU convenience store operator) at the top, followed by BGF Logis (logistics subsidiary), subcontracted trucking companies, and owner drivers at the bottom.
Drivers must cover all the costs of operations, which requires them to make two runs a day – one run would mean operating at a loss – and work upwards of 13 hours, to make around KRW 3 million (USD2,000) per month. Drivers regularly work night shifts without allowances and work an average of 25-26 days a month with minimal breaks.
Drivers cannot rest when they are sick because they are responsible for the costs of hiring a replacement driver, while they also endure extreme weather conditions and regularly engage in loading and unloading tasks, leading to severe occupational safety and health (OSH) related issues.
Flemming Overgaard, President of 3F Transport, Denmark, and ITF Road Transport Section Chair, said: “Words cannot express how deeply saddening and troubling our brother's death is.
"While this should never have happened, I believe that our fellow union member would have wanted all of us to continue the fight he was leading – to stand in solidarity with KPTU-TruckSol, the fight for Safe Rates and the fair working conditions KPTU-TruckSol members deserve. This is a fight that we will support until KPTU-TruckSol drivers win what should be theirs by right."
