On the afternoon of the 20th, a Cargo Union official is in a standoff with police while trying to enter the entrance of the BGF Logistics Jinju Center in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam. [Photo = Yonhap News]

As a "logistics crisis" is materializing with lunch boxes and triangle kimbap disappearing from CU convenience store shelves operated by BGF Retail, civic groups are taking legal action against the workers engaging in an illegal blockade.

The Free Korea Patriotic Group (Representative Oh Sang-jong) announced on the 22nd that they have filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against unknown individuals from the Cargo Union's CU branch, who are accused of obstructing business and damaging property by illegally occupying and blocking access to the BGF Food factory in Jincheon, Chungbuk, and key logistics centers.

"Disposal of Fresh Food is Clear Property Damage"

According to the complaint, the Cargo Union's CU branch initiated an indefinite general strike on the 7th, blockading major logistics centers in Hwaseong, Anseong, Naju, and Jinju. Subsequently, starting from the 17th, they have also blocked the entrance to the dedicated production line for convenient meals at the BGF Food factory in Jincheon.

The Patriotic Group emphasized, "The defendants' use of physical force to block the passage of transport vehicles constitutes 'obstruction of business by force'," and added, "The fact that all fresh food products, including lunch boxes and triangle kimbap, produced on the 17th could not be shipped and were disposed of due to the factory blockade clearly fulfills the requirements of 'property damage'."

Small Business Owners Weep Amidst the 'Yellow Envelope Act' Background

The background to this situation lies in the so-called 'Yellow Envelope Act,' which expands the bargaining rights of subcontractors and special employment workers. The Cargo Union, despite being special employment individuals contracted with the transport company, is escalating its occupation by demanding direct negotiations with BGF Logistics, the prime contractor.

BGF Food factory in Jincheon, Chungbuk

The problem is that the damage caused by their collective action is being passed on entirely to the franchisees, who are small business owners. According to the CU Franchisee Association, a significant number of the approximately 18,000 stores nationwide were not supplied with goods throughout the weekend, and some stores have seen their daily sales plummet by more than 30%, threatening their livelihoods.

Kim Mi-yeon, the president of the CU Franchisee Association, appealed through a media outlet, stating, "Despite earnestly pleading for the release of vehicles at the logistics center, the Cargo Union ignored our requests."

Oh Sang-jong, the representative of the Free Korea Patriotic Group, stated, "Labor disputes must be harmonized with the property rights of employers and should not involve violence or occupation," and urged for "swift intervention by public authority and strict judicial xử lý for acts that have caused immense damage to third-party small business owners by blockading production facilities with which there is no direct contractual relationship."

Reporter Lim Yo-hee