As confusion on the ground widened with delayed store deliveries at CU due to logistics disruptions following a union member's death, attention is turning to whether the situation will be resolved as labor and management enter talks. The supply disruptions centered on ready-to-eat meals have spread to some manufactured goods and sundries, heightening franchisee complaints, and some stores have reportedly suffered tangible losses such as decreased sales.
The situation escalated after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) Public Transport Workers' Union Cargo Solidarity (Cargo Solidarity) launched an indefinite general strike early this month and blockaded logistics centers. As logistics disruptions dragged on, supplies of ready-to-eat meals such as lunch boxes and triangle kimbap to CU stores nationwide were cut off, and operations were disrupted as incoming shipments of manufactured goods and sundries such as ramen and alcoholic beverages were delayed. Some ready-to-eat items were discarded in full and factory operations were suspended, dealing a blow to production.
According to industry sources on the 23rd, Cargo Solidarity and BGF Retail's logistics subsidiary BGF Logis began working-level talks in Daejeon the previous afternoon. Cargo Solidarity had initially demanded direct negotiations with the principal contractor, BGF Retail, but the mood has shifted toward negotiations as it first took a seat at the table with the subsidiary.
The talks are seen as the result of mounting pressure on both sides as public sentiment worsened after the fatal accident and franchisee losses piled up. Among franchisees, complaints that "we've reached the point where shelves are empty" have spread, increasing pressure on management to respond.
Product supply disruptions have expanded from initial ready-to-eat meals to manufactured goods and, more recently, to sundries. Given that convenience stores operate on a daily logistics system, analysts say franchisees are being hit hard because delivery delays directly translate into lower sales.
The CU Franchisees' Association, a group of CU franchisees, estimates they have lost up to about 30% of existing sales. Since the strike, some stores have seen average daily sales fall by 250,000 won from the previous week, and there are cases where monthly sales have dropped by more than 700,000 won, according to the analysis.
In a statement, the CU Franchisees' Association said, "At stores nationwide, deliveries of essential products such as lunch boxes, beverages, dairy products, and daily necessities are being delayed or suspended, and some are finding normal operations difficult," and added, "Franchisees, who have no decision-making power over the freight transport structure or the labor-management negotiation process, are bearing the most direct and significant damage. It is no different from taking subsistence self-employed people hostage."
Although labor-management talks have opened the way, uncertainty remains. The two sides coordinated detailed agendas and future schedules through working-level talks the previous day, but the union's hard-line stance continues. Cargo Solidarity is said to be maintaining blockades of logistics centers until a final agreement is reached.
BGF Retail plans to actively cooperate with police investigations and other efforts to manage the situation, while seeking ways to minimize franchisee losses. In a message sent to franchisees that day, BGF Retail said it would "resolve the situation as quickly as possible and prepare support measures for the inconvenience and damage."