Corea, República de - Striking truck drivers threatened and beaten

On 4 September, police together with thugs hired by the Pulmuone food company threatened striking workers, beat them and raided their strike encampment in front of the Pulmuone distribution centre in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province. The Cargo Truckers Solidarity Division (Korean Federation of Public Services and Transportation Workers’ Unions KPTU-Truck Sol) had called the strike to press for union recognition, decent working conditions and safety measures. During September managers flew drones over the strike encampment to illegally film workers. On 24 September, TruckSol members held a protest in support of the strike in front of the company premises in Eumseong. During the protest they tried to stop strike breakers and prevent illegally modified (overloaded) trucks being used by the company. In response roughly 100 company employees and hired thugs dragged union members into the company and kicked and beat them. In the early morning of 25 September, police raided the workers’ strike encampment, supposedly searching for illegal protest materials, but without a warrant. The union tried to press charges against illegal actions by the company and hired thugs, but received little help.