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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] A fatal accident occurred at a strike site where tensions between labor and management had been escalating over the deployment of replacement vehicles, resulting in casualties. At a CU logistics center in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, union members staging a protest collided with a delivery truck, leaving one person dead and three others injured.
According to the CU branch of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on April 20, the incident occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m., when a 2.5-ton truck struck four union members participating in a sit-in protest. One victim was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at around 10:50 a.m. The remaining three sustained injuries, including two serious and one minor.
The accident reportedly took place shortly after 10:00 a.m., when police dispersed approximately 40 striking union members blocking the entrance to the logistics center and allowed replacement vehicles to depart. Authorities immediately towed the vehicle involved and secured dashcam footage, and are currently investigating the exact circumstances of the incident, including whether there was any intentional wrongdoing by the driver.
The strike was initiated by the CU branch of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity on April 7 against BGF Logistics, demanding improved working conditions and direct negotiations with the principal contractor. The union has blocked access to key logistics hubs in Hwaseong, Anseong, Naju, and Jinju, as well as a BGF Food plant in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province.
The disruption of logistics operations has affected supply to more than 2,000 franchise stores nationwide, leading to shortages of goods and the disposal of perishable items.
Following the incident, the union issued an emergency directive calling on members nationwide to gather at the Jinju logistics center and escalate collective action.
Alphabiz Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
