On the road again: A man removing a placard after the strike ended in Uiwang, south of Seoul. — Reuters
SEOUL: Thousands of South Korean truckers are returning to work after voting to end their 16-day walkout that disrupted construction and other domestic industries.
Thousands of truckers seeking financial protections as fuel prices rise went on strike Nov 24. The government took aggressive steps to minimise interruptions by widening back-to-work orders on truckers and mobilising military vehicles to ease delays in industrial shipments.
About 3,600 of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity union’s 26,000 members participated in yesterday’s vote, and about 62% of them voted in favour of ending the strike and returning to work.
The union, which was striking to demand the government make permanent a minimum freight rate that is set to expire at the end of 2022, said it will continue fighting for minimum fares it says are crucial for drivers’ safety and financial stability. — AP
