South Korean truck drivers to strike

DAEJEON, South Korea, May 16 (UPI) -- Members of a South Korean truck drivers union voted Saturday in favor of a strike after being unable to get management to negotiate, a union official says.

Union leader Kim Dal-sik told the Yonhap News Agency the call for a vote by the union's 15,000 members came after government and management officials failed to agree to take part in talks concerning fuel subsidy and transportation fee issues.

"The problem is that the government and the management have no will for dialogue," Kim said. "We have no choice but to go on a strike as they stay away from negotiations."

Kim added that union leaders would decide later on specific details regarding a walkout.

Yonhap said the labor dispute follows the apparent suicide of a 37-year-old truck driver this month. The truck driver was wanted by authorities for allegedly orchestrating illegal demonstrations after 78 Korea Express drivers were fired.

Meanwhile, Kim told Yonhap if government and management officials agreed to hold labor talks, the order for a strike could be retracted. In addition to negotiations, the union has been seeking an increase in both .