Translation result
As Samsung Electronics’ management and labor union reached a tentative deal roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes before a planned strike, former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo drew attention by sharply criticizing the union’s demands, telling them, “Know your limits.”
On May 21, political and business sources said Hong had posted on his Facebook page on May 20 targeting the union’s threat to strike. He argued that operating profits should be distributed to shareholders and reinvested in research and development (R&D) and the business, and accused the union of “simply demanding money as if it were a bonus.”
Hong then asked, “Would you agree to pay cuts or layoffs when a company is losing money?” He added, “Absurd things are running rampant. Know your limits. Young people are angry.”
Earlier, the Samsung labor union had warned of an 18-day strike, scheduled to run from May 21 through June 7, raising alarm. Concerns mounted that a walkout could disrupt semiconductor manufacturing, a core national industry, but the Ministry of Employment and Labor intervened and talks resumed at the Gyeonggi Provincial Labor Relations Commission in Suwon at 4 p.m. on May 20.
After a marathon session, management and the union reached a tentative agreement on performance bonuses around 10:30 p.m., just before the scheduled strike. The union immediately announced it would suspend the planned action, scheduled from May 21 to June 7, until further notice.
The union plans to hold a ratification vote among members from 9 a.m. on May 23 to 10 a.m. on May 28. The worst-case scenario—a strike amid the semiconductor crisis—has been avoided for now, but if members reject the tentative agreement in the vote, the dispute could flare up again at any time.
Most Commented