Strike Over Transport Rates Enters Third Day; Concerns Grow Over Semiconductor Plant Construction

[Anchor]

Ready-mixed concrete unions in the Seoul metropolitan area have entered their third day of a strike, demanding an increase in transport rates. There are growing concerns that if the strike continues, it could impact the construction of semiconductor plants.

Reporter Jeon Hyeong-u has the story.

[Reporter]

At a ready-mixed concrete plant in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, about a dozen concrete mixer trucks remain idle.

Approximately 8,000 members of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions' ready-mixed concrete transport union in the metropolitan area began their strike on June 8.

[Protesters: "Defend our right to survive! Defend it!"]

The primary demand of the ready-mixed concrete union is an increase in transport rates. As individual business owners, they are also calling for a unified rate to be applied, as individual negotiations with concrete manufacturers are difficult.

[Lim Young-taek / Chairman of the National Ready-Mixed Concrete Transport Union: "What is our reality? After deducting equipment maintenance costs, we are left with 1.4 million won, which doesn't even reach the minimum wage..."]

The core issue in the negotiations is the scale of the rate increase. The union is demanding an increase of 8,000 won per delivery, excluding fuel costs, while manufacturers are proposing an increase of 2,500 won, leaving the two sides at a stalemate.

Seventy percent of ready-mixed concrete truck drivers in the metropolitan area are participating in this strike.

A construction industry official stated, "Concrete pouring is being delayed at 70 construction sites," adding, "If the strike lasts more than three days, construction sites across the metropolitan area will face shutdowns."

Concerns are also emerging that the strike could disrupt not only housing supply in the metropolitan area but also the construction of semiconductor plants for SK Hynix and Samsung Electronics.

The Construction Association of Korea noted, "Every time transport rates are set on a two-year cycle, there is a risk of construction sites being halted due to conflict," and has requested the government to ease regulations so that construction sites can more easily install their own on-site concrete production facilities.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport stated that it is reviewing the easing of installation requirements for areas such as semiconductor clusters, while also supporting the overall negotiation process to ensure a swift resolution.

(Video reporting: Seol Chi-hwan, Park Hyun-cheol | Video editing: Ahn Yeo-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.