South Korea truckers continue strike for sixth day amid rising fuel prices

South Korean truckers have gone on strike for a sixth day after talks with the government failed to make progress amid rising fuel prices.

Officials met for more than 10 hours with the leaders of the Cargo Truckers union for a third round of negotiations on Saturday, urging them to return to work and end the strike, but the two sides failed to narrow their differences on key agenda items.

The transportation ministry said it will continue to hold talks, but a union official said he is not certain whether the talk would continue.

The drivers are demanding that minimum wage guarantees introduced two years ago during the pandemic be extended beyond December 31 expiration. They are also demanding work rules that prevent overwork and extended hours that they say lead to unsafe driving.

The strike has slowed down the production of Hyundai Motor's biggest factory complex and disrupted shipments for a range of companies, including steel-making giant POSCO.

On Sunday, some 100 unionized truckers gathered at the main gate of the factory complex in the southern city of Ulsan. Hundreds more were expected to join on Monday.

Day 4: South Korean truckers broaden strike, curtain semiconductor production

South Korean truckers’ strike entered its fourth day on Friday threatening the deliverance of raw materials for semiconductors.

As the strike continues, container traffic at ports has slowed sharply. At Busan port, which typically handles 80 percent of the country’s container activity, traffic was down to a third of a typical day, a government official said.

At Incheon port, it has fallen 80%, while at the port for Ulsan, the industrial hub where much of the strike action has occurred, container traffic has been halted since Tuesday.

South Korea is a major supplier of semiconductors, smart phones, autos, batteries and electronics goods. The strike has deepened uncertainty over global supply chains already disrupted by China’s strict COVID-19 curbs and Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

South Korean truckers’ strike enters third day, disrupting supply chain

Thousands of South Korean truckers went on strike for a third day on Thursday to protest against the rising fuel prices.

“This lengthening strike by the Cargo Solidarity is nothing more than putting up a fight in an extreme way by holding national logistics as a hostage, even as the government has said it will find a way for an inclusive growth through talks,” according to a statement from associations representing employers, taxis, semiconductors, automobiles and others.

About 40 people have been arrested in the strike, with some of them later released. The actions have been largely peaceful, though tense at some locations.

The strike is seen as a threat to the newly elected president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, who inherited serious economic challenges when coming to power last month.

President Yoon so far has said he prefers to stay out of the strike, calling on the unions and management to resolve their differences.

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