KCTU Blames CU Operator for Fatal Strike Incident, Demands Accountability

The tragic death of a striking cargo driver at a CU logistics center has ignited a firestorm of protest from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU). The union places direct blame on BGF Retail, the operator of the CU convenience store chain, accusing the company of evading its responsibilities as a primary contractor and deliberately provoking the incident by attempting to break the strike.

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BGF Retail, as the primary contractor, denies responsibility, evades negotiations, and forces cargo diversion, driving workers to their deaths. BGF must take responsibility for attempting to break the strike and the death of the worker and apologize immediately.

KCTU's press conference outside BGF Retail's headquarters was charged with emotion and anger. Union leaders decried the company's alleged refusal to engage in direct negotiations, its attempts to circumvent the strike by rerouting cargo, and the subsequent deployment of a replacement vehicle that tragically resulted in the death of a union member. The union's demand for an immediate apology and accountability underscores the deep chasm between labor and management in South Korea, particularly concerning subcontracted workers.

A central demand is the enforcement of the revised Trade Union and Labor Relations Act, often referred to as the 'Yellow Envelope Act.' This legislation aims to hold primary contractors more accountable for labor conditions of subcontracted workers. KCTU argues that BGF Retail, despite having the ultimate decision-making power over freight transport conditions, is shirking its legal and moral obligations by pushing responsibility onto subcontractors and small business owners.

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Is demanding direct negotiations and dialogue the reason to die? The government and capital are responsible for the death of our fellow worker Seo Gwang-seok.

Furthermore, the incident has brought renewed attention to the precarious status of "special employment" workers, such as truck drivers, who are often classified as self-employed individuals despite working under conditions similar to regular employees. KCTU's call to recognize these drivers as legitimate workers, entitled to basic labor rights and protections, highlights a systemic issue within South Korea's labor market. The Hankyoreh's reporting reflects the union's perspective, framing the incident as a direct consequence of corporate negligence and governmental inaction, demanding justice for the deceased worker and systemic reform.

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This incident occurred because the government, judiciary, and legislature have stripped special employment workers, disguised as individual business owners, of their status and rights as workers.