The TWU says return to work orders handed down to striking truck drivers is in breach of many rules and laws
The Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) is calling on the Korean government to stop plans to issue ‘return-to-work’ orders and immediately negotiate with TruckSol to make Safe Rates permanent and expand coverage to more sectors.
Unions globally have already called on the Korean government to uphold its commitment to Korean workers and the Korean public by supporting legislation that would make Safe Rates permanent and expand coverage to more sectors, via an open letter to President Yoon Seok-yeol, Minister of MoLIT and Interim Chief of People Power Party on November 22.
However, far from fulfilling their promise, the Korean government and People Power Party have responded by labelling the strike an illegal action even before it started and are now threatening striking drivers with executive orders to return to work.
Violation of return-to-work orders to carry with them penalties of up to three years in prison or fines up to KRW 30 million.
The TWU says the Korean government’s actions are in clear violation of ILO Convention No. 87, which states that all workers, without distinction, including self-employed workers, have the right to establish and join organisations of their own choosing, and permits the right to strike as one of the essential means through which workers and their organisations may promote and defend their economic and social interests.
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The TWU says transport workers in Australia have been fighting with its Korean brother and sisters for years to win and strengthen Safe Rates system in our two countries.
The union says it is outraged by the Korean government’s repression of KPTU-TruckSol’s legitimate strike action. It once again calls on the Korean government to stop plans to issue ‘return-to-work’ orders, comply with international labour standards, and uphold its promise to KPTU-TruckSol and the Korean public to make Safe Rates permanent and expand coverage to more sectors.
The TWU says Australian transport workers fully support KPTU-TruckSol’s strike and will continue to stand in solidarity with Korean truck drivers until their demands are met.