Samsung, Union Extend Labor Mediation Through May 19 Ahead of Final Strike Showdown

A second round of post-mediation talks at South Korea’s National Labor Relations Commission over wage negotiations between Samsung Electronics Co. and its union will continue through May 19. With the union set to stage a general strike on May 21, the talks amount to a final showdown before a walkout.

Park Soo-keun, chairman of the National Labor Relations Commission, told reporters at the agency’s office in Sejong on May 18 that post-mediation would continue through May 19.

“So far, we have only heard the basic positions,” Park said. Both sides are expected to present proposals later in the day. He declined to say whether the differences between the two sides were substantial.

The session was scheduled to run until 7 p.m. on May 18 and resume at 10 a.m. on May 19.

Samsung and the union began the second round of post-mediation talks on May 18 ahead of the union’s planned general strike on May 21. The first round was held over two days on May 11 and May 12, but ended without an agreement.

At the request of both sides, Park is participating in the second round as the sole mediator. With the commission’s chairman directly leading the mediation, negotiations appear to be continuing with the possibility of a last-minute deal still on the table.

Labor and management also held preparatory meetings on both days over the weekend ahead of the mediation session. But the two sides are still far apart on issues including greater transparency in performance bonuses, the removal of bonus caps and the institutionalization of the bonus system.

No formal deadline has been set for the second round of post-mediation talks. But with only three days left until the union’s planned strike, the outcome of the mediation is poised to determine whether the walkout goes ahead.

The government has also signaled it could invoke emergency arbitration powers to prevent the strike. Labor groups, including Samsung Electronics’ union, have strongly objected.

Lee Song-ryeol, Hankyung.com reporter yisr0203@hankyung.com