Samsung labor and management renegotiate bonuses as union says no adjustment without formalization [Bonus dispute widens]

Samsung Electronics labor and management have entered a two-day post-mediation process under government mediation, but the talks are expected to face difficulties. The union leadership has made clear that it will not back down from its demand for a bonus equal to 15% of operating profit and for the system to be formalized. If the negotiations collapse, the union plans to carry out the general strike it previously announced on the 21st.
Samsung Electronics labor and management resumed talks on the 11th through a two-day post-mediation process at the National Labor Relations Commission in Government Complex Sejong. Post-mediation is a procedure in which mediation is conducted again with the consent of both sides after the original mediation has ended, with the Central Labor Commission serving as the mediator. If an agreement is reached, it carries the same legal effect as a collective bargaining agreement.
Even so, observers say it will not be easy to find common ground, as the two sides still differ sharply over formalizing the bonus system.
Before the meeting, Choi Seung-ho, chair of the Samsung Electronics Branch of the Supra-Enterprise Labor Union, told reporters, "If the company does not take a position on formalization, I think mediation will fail even today."
"The company has said it would set money aside when performance was strong and make up for losses when it was in the red, but it has not kept that promise," he said. "A written statement alone is hard to trust, and we are approaching this from the standpoint of formalization."
He also reaffirmed the union's position that it will not discuss setting up a companywide common fund to distribute bonuses to non-semiconductor divisions, including the DX division, in this round of talks.
Asked whether the union had resolved internal differences, Choi said, "Since this was decided jointly by the three unions within the company — the Supra-Enterprise Labor Union, the National Samsung Electronics Union and the Donghaeng Labor Union — it is difficult to change course now." He added, "Since we have been recognized as the majority union, we plan to actively review this issue next year."
Samsung Electronics labor and management previously failed to reach an agreement during mediation in February and March, leading to a decision to suspend mediation. However, after persuasion from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, they returned to the table through the post-mediation process. The union has repeatedly said it will carry out the general strike on the 21st if the post-mediation talks fail.
Meanwhile, Kim Young-hoon, minister of employment and labor, called on both sides to reach a responsible settlement. At a Policy Review Meeting and Emergency Employment and Labor Situation Review Meeting on the same day, Kim said, "I hope both labor and management will approach the mediation with a sense of social responsibility worthy of the name 'Another Family, Samsung.'" He added, "Just as Samsung Electronics built itself into a world-class company through technology, it must also set a new model in labor-management relations."
MOEL also plans to support dialogue that takes into account not only Samsung Electronics labor and management, but also various other parties, including partner companies, that contributed to the creation of value.
soup@fnnews.com Lim Subin Reporter