Korean Fair Trade Commission launches investigation into "transport obstruction"

While the General Strike of the Public Transportation Workers' Union Freight Solidarity Headquarters (Freight Solidarity) of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) continued for nine days, the Fair Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against the Fair Trade Act on suspicion of obstructing transportation. As soon as an on-site investigation was launched to confirm whether or not there was a violation, Cargo Solidarity protested.

In a statement on December 2nd, Cargo Solidarity stated that it "sternly condemns the government's wave of attacks against public security" in connection with the Japan Fair Trade Commission's on-site investigation, and that it will "respond with a more robust struggle."

The FTC, which announced on November 29th that it would examine whether the cargo solidarity strike was illegal, attempted an on-site investigation for the first time. At around 10 a.m. that day, 17 investigators were dispatched to the Gangseo-gu Public Transportation Workers' Union building in Seoul, where the Cargo Solidarity Office is located. FTC investigators said, "If it seems that the investigation has started only after entering the building, the Public Transport Workers' Union will investigate inside the building."

While the two sides continued to confront each other, a lawyer from the Public Transportation Workers' Union and an investigator from the Fair Trade Commission held a meeting outside the building at around 1:45 pm that day. A representative of Freight Solidarity said, "Currently, this is a sensitive situation and issue."

In the end, the JFTC's cargo solidarity on-site investigation was unsuccessful. The FTC only handed over the official document to start the investigation, and the two sides discussed whether or not to proceed with the interview. An official from Cargo Solidarity said, "We believe that the FTC's investigation is unfair, but we are willing to cooperate with related investigations."

Freight Solidarity stipulates that the JFTC's on-site investigation is "repression of labor unions by mobilizing the JFTC", and pointed out, "It is difficult to find grounds and excuses."

In particular, Cargo Solidarity criticized the move as an "excessive abuse of administrative power," saying, "It is unjust to apply the Fair Trade Act to labor unions to regulate unfair acts by businesses or trade associations." It argues that Cargo Solidarity is an industrial labor union that received a certificate of incorporation from the government and should not be viewed as a business association.

According to the Fair Trade Law, trade associations must not restrict competition or interfere with the business activities of constituent businesses through unfair joint conduct. Based on the article, the JFTC determined that Cargo Solidarity forced its affiliated businesses to refuse transportation (participation in a strike) and interfered with the transportation of other businesses, and launched an on-site investigation.

Cargo Solidarity said, "The safe fare system to ensure the safety of the people is still on the backburner, and there is only an offensive against the labor union.