Samsung Electronics Labor and Management Resume Talks Two Weeks After Negotiation Breakdown

Discussion Expected on Main Negotiation Schedule and Direction

The National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (Jeonsamno), which declared a strike for the first time since Samsung Electronics was founded, is resuming talks with management.

Members of the Samsung Electronics labor union held a cultural event on the afternoon of the 24th of last month in front of the Samsung Electronics headquarters in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, urging negotiations with the labor union.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to industry sources on the 11th, Samsung Electronics labor and management have agreed to meet near the Samsung Electronics Seocho building in Seoul on the 13th. This comes two weeks after talks broke down during wage negotiations on the 28th of last month.

During this meeting, both sides are expected to exchange views on the schedule and direction of the main negotiations going forward. Currently, labor and management have differing opinions on wage increase rates, vacation policies, and performance bonus payments.

At a press conference declaring the strike on the 29th of last month, Jeonsamno stated, "What we want is a fair and transparent wage system improvement, and this must come first," adding, "Fairness and transparency mean performance bonuses based on operating profit."

Samsung Electronics management and Jeonsamno have been negotiating since January but failed to narrow their differences. The union then secured the right to strike through the Central Labor Relations Commission’s decision to suspend mediation and a member vote, subsequently declaring the strike. On the 7th, the union began its first annual leave protest following the strike declaration, stating, "The ultimate goal is a general strike involving about 28,000 union members."