The Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission determined that parcel delivery workers affiliated with the Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity are bargaining counterparts for CJ Logistics and Hanjin. This recognizes Cargo Solidarity, long seen as independent contractors, as a union. Attention is turning to whether this will also affect talks between BGF Retail, which operates the CU convenience store chain and is in conflict with Cargo Solidarity over whether it is the "real employer," that is, whether it has employer status.
According to the industry on the 28th, the day before, the Seoul Regional Labor Relations Commission accepted Cargo Solidarity's application to correct the public notice concerning its demand for bargaining by a subcontractor union against CJ Logistics and Hanjin. In other words, it recognized Cargo Solidarity as a bargaining counterpart for CJ Logistics and Hanjin.
Earlier, on the 17th of last month, CJ Logistics and Hanjin publicly announced the fact of receiving bargaining demands from four to five unions. However, they excluded Cargo Solidarity, which had demanded bargaining on the same basis as other unions. In response, Cargo Solidarity filed this case, saying the notice should be corrected, and obtained a power of attorney for the bargaining demand from its umbrella organization, the Public Transport Workers' Union. The labor commission's decision deems Cargo Solidarity a bargaining counterpart as well, recognizing the standing of specially employed workers as parties.
Cargo Solidarity is also demanding talks, saying BGF Retail is the prime contractor. BGF Retail has refused, saying it is not the prime contractor. Although the labor commission only ruled on the CJ Logistics and Hanjin case the day before, there is speculation it could affect the BGF Retail case as well.