Samsung Electronics Labor Talks Drag Past State Mediator’s Deadline

A second round of post-mediation talks between Samsung Electronics Co. and its union continued past the deadline set by South Korea’s Central Labor Relations Commission, as the two sides failed to narrow their differences in last-ditch negotiations.

According to the business community and the labor board, Samsung management and the union have been holding a closed-door post-mediation meeting at the government complex in Sejong since the morning of May 19. Park Soo-geun, chairman of the Central Labor Relations Commission, had said a conclusion would be reached by 10:30 p.m. that day, either through a settlement or a mediation proposal.

But no official outcome had been announced as of 10:50 p.m. on May 19. The delay indicated the two sides were still trying to resolve their remaining points of contention.

Under the post-mediation process, the labor board presents a compromise proposal if labor and management fail to reach a voluntary agreement. Even if such a proposal is made, the talks collapse if either side refuses to accept it.

If the negotiations ultimately break down, Samsung Electronics' union is set to proceed with its planned strike. The latest post-mediation session marks a final inflection point for whether a full-scale walkout will go ahead.

Oh Se-seong, Hankyung.com reporter, sesung@hankyung.com