A tentative labor-management deal to raise the ready-mix concrete transport fee to 80,000 won per trip was voted down in a union member ballot. As a result, disruptions in ready-mix concrete supply to construction sites in the Seoul metropolitan area are expected to continue.

Ready-mix concrete transport union members chant slogans in front of the Construction Association Hall in Gangnam District, Seoul, on the 9th at the all-out rally urging an end to construction firms' unfair practices. /Courtesy of News1

According to the construction industry on Jun. 10, the tentative agreement reached the previous day between the union and management was put to a membership vote, and 68.3% of members voted against it, leading to final rejection. Of the 7,517 eligible members, 7,222 voted, with 2,213 in favor (30.6%), 4,931 against (68.3%), and 78 abstentions (1.1%).

In a mediation meeting that ran from 2 p.m. to about 10:30 p.m. the previous day, labor and management produced a tentative agreement to raise the ready-mix concrete transport fee from 75,800 won per trip to 80,000 won. The increase is 4,200 won per trip, or about 5.5%. However, because the union had initially demanded an 8,000-won increase per trip, sentiment among members was reportedly that the hike in the tentative deal fell short of expectations.

The union said, "The 68% vote against reflects inflation, the burden of vehicle maintenance and management costs, and lower transport rates in the Seoul metropolitan area compared with regional areas," adding, "We plan to escalate our actions to secure a practical increase that can protect members' livelihoods."

Ready-mix concrete is construction concrete produced by mixing cement, aggregate, and water in fixed proportions, and it is used in most construction projects, including apartments, buildings, roads, and bridges. In particular, because it is an essential material for concrete pouring in structural framing, any supply halt can directly affect construction schedules.

With the tentative agreement voted down, the suspension of work by ready-mix concrete transport workers in the Seoul metropolitan area that began at 8 a.m. on the 8th is expected to continue for the time being. As a result, disruptions to construction schedules in the metropolitan area also appear inevitable. Although the tentative agreement was rejected, key issues such as increasing transport fees and collective bargaining were addressed in the talks, leaving room for further negotiations.

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