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A member of the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union Cargo Truckers Solidarity Division confronts police while attempting to enter the BGF Logistics Jinju Center in Jeongchon-myeon, Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province, on the afternoon of April 20 (Photo = Yonhap News Agency) |
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] BGF Logistics has rejected claims made by the truckers’ union, saying the allegations are “one-sided and not based on facts,” as a strike continues to disrupt convenience store deliveries.
Drivers affiliated with the Korean Public Service and Transport Workers’ Union Cargo Truckers Solidarity Division have been on strike since April 5, demanding negotiations with BGF Retail. The situation escalated after a union member was fatally struck by a vehicle during a protest at a logistics center in Jinju on April 20.
BGF Logistics stated that BGF Retail cannot be considered a bargaining party due to the lack of clear legal grounds for employer status. It added that its participation in recent talks with the union was aimed solely at minimizing disruption to franchisees, not an acknowledgment of employer responsibility.
[Alpha Biz= Ellie Kim] The company explained that its logistics system operates through a multi-layered structure involving logistics centers, transport companies, and individual drivers, and that it has facilitated joint discussions among these parties when needed.
BGF Logistics also claimed that many participants in the strike are not CU delivery drivers, noting that only about 7–8% of the roughly 3,500 CU drivers are union members.
The firm further rejected calls for nationwide collective bargaining, arguing that delivery conditions vary by region and center, making uniform pricing impractical.
Regarding allegations of retaliatory volume cuts, BGF Logistics said temporary reallocation of deliveries was an emergency measure to minimize damage to franchise stores after some drivers refused to work.
As the strike continues, franchise owners are reporting declining sales due to delayed deliveries. The CU franchisee association has called on all parties to restore logistics operations and compensate for damages, while BGF Retail pledged to resolve the situation promptly and provide support to affected store owners.
Alphabiz Ellie Kim 인턴기자(press@alphabiz.co.kr)
