Unionized cargo truckers hold a press conference in front of HiteJinro's headquarters in Seoul, Monday, to ask the labor ministry to conduct a special investigation into the company. Yonhap

Liquor maker claims compensation of $2 million against unionized truckers

By Park Jae-hyuk

The five-month dispute between HiteJinro and unionized cargo truck drivers has hardly shown any signs of a possible settlement, as they have continued to face difficulties in reaching an agreement, according to industry officials, Tuesday.

After the company sent 250 office workers on Monday to its Hongcheon brewery in Gangwon Province to deliver 120,000 boxes of Terra, Hite, Max and FiLite, the truckers held a press conference at HiteJinro's headquarters in Seoul the same day to ask the labor authorities to conduct a special investigation into the management's attempt to destroy the union.

In March, the truck drivers joined the Cargo Truckers Solidarity movement under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. They began their protest against the liquor maker that month by blocking the entrances to the company's soju factories in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Even after the umbrella union ended its week-long nationwide strike in June, they have continued their fight against HiteJinro, demanding the company raise their delivery fees. The truckers have claimed that their delivery fees have been virtually frozen over the past 15 years.

Earlier this month, the drivers started a sit-in at Hongcheon brewery. Though the drivers do not work there, the sit in was intended to disrupt the delivery of beer, considering its high demand during the summer.

Last Thursday, five drivers jumped into the Hongcheon River to evade police.

Police escort a cargo truck coming out of HiteJinro's Hongcheon brewery in Gangwon Province, Monday. Yonhap

HiteJinro, however, has emphasized that the truckers should talk with Suyang Logistics, HiteJinro's wholly-owned subsidiary, which signed contracts with the drivers. It also said their delivery fees have been raised gradually over the past 15 years.

In addition, the liquor maker has refused to accept the union's request to retract the 2.7 billion won ($2 million) damages claim against 11 truckers, who disrupted the operations of the Cheongju and Icheon factories.

The company claimed it suffered over 10 billion won in losses, due to additional costs for deliveries and setbacks in production.

"Since the truckers started an illegal strike in front of our Hongcheon brewery, we have suffered significant losses, as we have been unable to distribute our beer during the peak season," a HiteJinro official said. "We will do our best to prevent setbacks in the supply of our products."

In response, the unionized truckers have urged HiteJinro to participate in negotiations with them, saying that the company has the right to control their working conditions.

"HiteJinro and Suyang Logistics are actually the same company," the leader of the truckers told reporters at the press conference. "HiteJinro should negotiate with us because executives of Suyang Logistics assume executive positions at HiteJinro."