Wage Increase Rate and Bonus Improvement to Be Discussed
Focus on Whether a Breakthrough Can Be Found
Concerns Over Semiconductor Competitiveness Decline Persist if Talks Fail
Samsung Electronics labor and management, which experienced the company's first strike since its founding, will resume wage negotiations on the 23rd, two weeks after the general strike.
On the morning of the 8th, union members shouted slogans at the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union General Strike Rally held in front of Samsung Electronics Hwaseong Plant in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]
On this day, Samsung Electronics labor and management will begin negotiations to reach a wage agreement at the Nano Park negotiation hall in the Giheung Campus, Gyeonggi Province. The negotiation table is expected to cover issues such as the wage increase rate, one day of guaranteed union founding leave demanded by the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (Jeonsamno), improvement of the performance bonus system, and compensation for economic losses due to the strike.
Attention is focused on whether this dialogue can find a breakthrough to resolve the prolonged strike. Jeonsamno has continued collective action since declaring the strike on May 29.
The management reportedly stated at the third post-adjustment meeting of the Central Labor Relations Commission at the end of last month that the "average wage increase rate of 5.1%" (basic increase rate 3.0% + performance increase rate 2.1%) cannot be altered. On the other hand, Jeonsamno proposed an average wage increase rate of 5.6%, reflecting a basic increase rate of 3.5%.
If an agreement fails, concerns about weakening semiconductor competitiveness raised inside and outside the industry are expected to grow. Samsung Electronics announced on the 19th that it resumed talks with the union and said, "We will strive to establish a win-win labor-management relationship through continuous dialogue with the union."
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