Samsung Electronics Union Declares Total Strike: What’s Next for the 45 Trillion Won Bonus Dispute?

Translation result.

As the Samsung Electronics union moved to call a general strike, Choi Seung-ho, chair of the Super-Company Labor Union’s Samsung Electronics branch, fought back tears while announcing the action.

Choi said that at about 11:40 a.m. on the 20th, after leaving the Central Labor Relations Commission meeting room at the Government Complex Sejong, “The union accepted the mediation plan proposed by the commission, but the company rejected it,” and confirmed the union will begin the planned general strike tomorrow.

He said that just before Chair Park Soo-geun declared the mediation unsuccessful, the employer’s chief negotiator, Yeom Myeong-gu, withdrew his refusal and asked for more time, prompting a three-day extension. However, on the morning of the 20th the employer repeatedly said it had not reached a decision, and the post-mediation process ultimately concluded without agreement.

Choi expressed deep regret that delays in management’s decision-making brought the post-mediation process to an end, but he vowed the union would continue efforts to secure a deal even during the strike.

He also thanked government officials and Ministry of Employment and Labor staff for their efforts to broker a settlement, and apologized to the public for failing to achieve a better outcome despite the union’s concessions; he grew emotional as he spoke.

Meanwhile, the government said it will continue trying to secure an agreement until the last moment. Park Soo-geun, head of the Central Labor Relations Commission, said the commission presented a mediation plan that the union accepted, but the employer expressed reservations and refused to give final sign-off, so mediation ended. He added that if either side changes its position and requests mediation in the future, the commission will respond at any time.

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