Provisional agreement rejected in remicon labor-management talks... concerns grow over prolonged shutdown in the Seoul metropolitan area

As a tentative labormanagement agreement over increasing the transportation fee for readymixed concrete was rejected in a union member vote, the likelihood of continued supply disruptions at construction sites in the Seoul metropolitan area has risen. According to the construction industry on the 10th, the union had tentatively agreed the previous day with management to raise the transportation fee from 75,800 won per trip to 80,000 won, but the proposal was not ultimately passed after opposition in the union member vote was tallied at 68.3%. It was reported that many viewed this agreement as falling short of the originally requested increase. Since readymixed concrete is an essential material used in various construction projects such as apartments, roads, and bridges, if this shutdown is prolonged, delays in work progress at sites in the Seoul metropolitan area appear inevitable. While leaving open the possibility of additional negotiations, the union said it would continue its struggle, demanding a substantive increase.