On the 11th, the fifth day after the general strike of the National Confederation of Trade Unions' Public Transport Workers' Solidarity Headquarters (Cargo Solidarity), disruptions in logistics and transportation continue to occur in various places, large and small.



As the government is conducting working-level negotiations with the Cargo Solidarity following the previous day, it is noteworthy whether it can find a clue to resolve the situation.



According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, about 4,200 members of the Cargo Coalition continued to strike by waiting all night in each region from the previous day until early this morning.



The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport estimated that 7,350 people, or 33% of the cargo solidarity union members (22,000), including them, are participating in the strike.



The container installation rate by port (the ratio of containers actually stored compared to the port's container storage capacity) was 71.4%, which is similar to normal times (65.8%).



However, it was counted that the amount of imports and exports decreased compared to normal due to local traffic disturbances in some ports, such as Busan Port and Ulsan Port.



The volume of cargo at major logistics hubs in the metropolitan area is also showing a bottoming trend from the previous day.



The day before, the container transport volume at the Uiwang Inland Container Base (ICD) shrank to one-tenth the level of last month, and the Incheon Port to one-fifth.



In the case of Busan Port, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the previous day, container import and export volume was 7,268 TEU (1 TEU is one 20-foot container), down to 33.6% of the previous month.



The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport reported that some items such as automobiles, steel, and cement are experiencing setbacks, such as a decrease in production and shipments.



He said, however, that emergency supplies are being supported to be taken out in cooperation with the police.



In addition, he emphasized that individual companies are sending their own transport personnel to transport emergency cargo, and the government is trying to minimize logistical damage through emergency transport measures.



Clashes, large and small, continue at the strike site.



At 8:25 am that day, in front of the new port three-way intersection in Gangseo-gu, Busan, about 270 union members of the Freight Solidarity occupied the road and held a protest.



In the process, six union members were arrested as current offenders by the police on charges of obstructing the transportation of a freight vehicle, and two police officers were injured and are being treated at a nearby hospital.



The government is emphasizing that illegal activities will be strictly enforced, but dialogue is ongoing to resolve the situation.



On the previous day, the government's 2nd Vice Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Eo Myeong-so met with the Chairman of the Cargo Solidarity and heard the position of the Cargo Solidarity and urged the withdrawal of the general strike, but the meeting ended without results as the differences between the two sides were not resolved.



The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said that they had a meeting with the cargo solidarity and working-level staff at the government complex in Sejong at 11 a.m. on the same day, and started dialogue to solve the problem.



During the interview, it is known that conversations took place over issues such as the abolition of the 'safe fare system' sunset system demanded by the Cargo Solidarity, countermeasures against oil prices, and withdrawal of strikes.



As the safe fare system was introduced through legislation, the government is in the position that it is a problem that needs to be resolved through legislation after discussing amendments to related laws in the National Assembly.



However, as a competent ministry, we are emphasizing that we will coordinate the positions of the Cargo Solidarity, transport operators, and shippers to ensure smooth legislation, and provide support so that the problem can be resolved amicably.



(Photo = Yonhap News)