President Lee Jae-myung Takes Aim at Samsung Union: "Just Trying to Save Ourselves"

On the 30th, a day before International Workers' Day, President of the United States Lee Jae-myung said, "Management should treat workers as valued partners in running a company. Workers and labor unions must also share a sense of responsibility."
Lee made the remarks while presiding over a Senior Presidential Aides Meeting at Cheong Wa Dae (the Blue House) that day. While stressing the importance of management's responsibility, he also appeared to emphasize that labor unions must act responsibly. In particular, he pointed out, "When some organized workers make excessive and unreasonable demands just to save themselves and draw public criticism, they end up harming not only their own union but also other workers." The remarks are being read as a message that, amid rising labor-management tensions after the Samsung Electronics labor union announced a general strike for next month, both sides should seek solutions based on coexistence and cooperation rather than pushing one-sided and excessive demands.


cjk@fnnews.com Choi Jong-geun, Seong Seok-woo Reporter