Samsung Electronics Union Says Mediation Collapsed, Will Launch General Strike on May 21

Samsung Electronics' union said it will launch a general strike on May 21.

The Samsung Electronics chapter of the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union said in a notice that management repeatedly maintained that "no decision had been made" and ultimately failed to present its position. As a result, post-mediation talks conducted by the National Labor Relations Commission came to an end, it said.

The union said it would proceed with a lawful general strike on May 21 as planned.

Below is the full statement from the Samsung Electronics chapter of the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union:

Hello.

I am Choi Seung-ho, head of the Samsung Electronics chapter of the supra-enterprise labor union.

The union participated in the three days of post-mediation talks in good faith and did its best to find common ground.

At around 10 p.m. on May 19, the union agreed to the mediation proposal presented by the National Labor Relations Commission, but management indicated it would reject it.

Just before the chair of the National Labor Relations Commission was about to declare that mediation had failed, Yeo Myung-gu, management's chief bargaining representative, withdrew the rejection and asked for more time. The process was then extended through a third day.

But at 11 a.m. on May 21, management continued to repeat only that "no decision had been made" and ultimately did not state its position.

The post-mediation process therefore ended under the commission's procedures.

We express deep regret that the post-mediation process ended because of delays in management's decision-making.

We cannot help but lament that the mediation process ended without management making a final decision.

The union will proceed with a lawful general strike on May 21 as scheduled.

We also make clear that we will not stop efforts to reach an agreement during the strike.

Once again, the union agreed to the mediation proposal presented by the National Labor Relations Commission.

Finally, we thank the government and related officials who did their utmost to help bring labor-management negotiations at Samsung Electronics to a settlement.

Thank you.

Won Jong-hwan, Hankyung.com reporter, won0403@hankyung.com