Blue House: "There Is Still Time Before Samsung Electronics Union Strike... Government to Actively Support Dialogue"

Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson of the Blue House, Holds Briefing
When Asked About "Emergency Arbitration Authority," Says "There Is Still Time"

The Blue House stated on May 13 that although the after-adjustment procedures for wage negotiations between management and labor at Samsung Electronics have broken down, "there is still time before a strike," adding, "The government intends to actively support management and labor so they can resolve the issue through dialogue before the scheduled strike date."

Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson of the Blue House, said this during an afternoon briefing at Chunchugwan when asked about assertions that "the government should use its emergency arbitration authority to prevent a strike by the Samsung Electronics labor union." However, Kang responded to questions regarding the use or review of the emergency arbitration authority by saying, "I would like to answer by emphasizing that there is still time for dialogue between labor and management."

The emergency arbitration authority is a measure based on Article 76 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (the Trade Union Act), which allows the Minister of Employment and Labor to intervene when a labor dispute is likely to seriously endanger the daily lives of citizens or significantly harm the national economy. If the emergency arbitration authority is exercised, industrial actions are prohibited for 30 days, and mediation and arbitration procedures by the Central Labor Relations Commission are conducted.

Previously, management and labor at Samsung Electronics held a second after-adjustment meeting at the Central Labor Relations Commission in the Sejong Government Complex to conclude the 2026 wage agreement. However, the talks finally broke down at 3 a.m. on May 13. The labor union has already announced that if negotiations fail, it will launch a general strike on May 21.