"Nothing Has Changed": Union Rejects Samsung's Proposal... Further Talks Fail as Strike Proceeds

Samsung Requests Further Talks but Sticks to Previous Stance
Company Says "We Will Negotiate with an Open Attitude"
Union: "Open to Discussions After June 7, When Strike Ends"

Samsung Electronics sent an official letter to the union outlining its key positions on major issues for further discussions, but there was little progress from its previous stance, such as the "flexible institutionalization of performance bonuses" as a special compensation plan. As a result, the union maintained its existing position to proceed with the strike.

Yonhap News Agency

On the morning of May 15, Samsung Electronics sent an official letter to the Samsung Chapter of the Samsung Group Enterprise Union, stating, "During the Central Labor Relations Commission's mediation in March, the company proposed that the existing OPI (Over-Profit Incentive) system could be funded by choosing between 10% of operating profit or economic value added (EVA)."

Samsung Electronics Pyeongtaek Campus in Gyeonggi-do. Yonhap News.

The company further stated, "Regarding the demand for institutionalization of performance bonuses and the removal of caps, we proposed a more flexible system by maintaining the existing OPI system and additionally introducing a special compensation plan without an upper limit." The company added, "In response to the wishes of employees, shareholders, and the public who hope for a settlement, we repeatedly propose to meet and talk again without preconditions," and emphasized, "The company will approach negotiations with an open attitude."

However, this position is essentially unchanged from previous proposals already made public by the company. The previous day, the union had stated that if the company presented concrete plans on the agenda of "performance bonus transparency, removal of caps, and institutionalization" by 10 a.m. today, it would consider whether to engage in further talks. Although the management reiterated its previous stance and again requested additional dialogue, the union declared its intention to strike, making further negotiations between labor and management impossible.

Choi Seungho, head of the Enterprise Union, responded to an inquiry about his position by saying, "We are willing to negotiate after June 7," and added, "We intend to fully exercise our constitutionally guaranteed rights." June 7 is the date the union has announced as the end of the strike.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.