Tower crane labor unions affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions launched a general strike.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Construction Union Tower Crane Section Committee and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions Korea Tower Crane Operators Union held a press conference in front of the Blue House on the 27th and declared a general strike, saying, "Excluding labor costs, the monthly equipment rental fee is bid at 0 won, and this abnormal structure has become entrenched." They also said, "Rental business owners are cutting workers' wages by about half, and the expenses that should be投入ed for safety have effectively disappeared."
The number of tower crane union members affiliated with the two major umbrella labor groups is estimated at about 3,100. Considering that the total number of tower crane operators is about 3,500, 88.5% are union members.
Earlier, the tower crane unions of the two major umbrella groups held 10 rounds of talks with the employers' association Tower Crane Safety Association. But they failed to find common ground. The unions were reportedly demanding a 15% increase in total wages and compliance with the statutory working hours (40 hours per week). They also went through post-mediation procedures at the Central Labor Relations Commission, but mediation was halted on the 21st after they failed to narrow differences. The umbrella groups then launched a general strike after a vote on industrial action.
The unions said 85% of tower cranes nationwide would be shut down. As a result, there are concerns that construction at Samsung Electronics semiconductor plant sites and major construction sites across the country will be disrupted.