Samsung Electronics executives apologize to the public, say they will talk to the union without conditions

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[Financial News] Samsung Electronics executives issued a public apology and formally asked the union to resume talks without conditions, as labor-management tensions drag on and concerns grow over a general strike. With the union discussing whether to push ahead with the strike, attention is also turning to the possibility of last-minute negotiations.
\rSamsung Electronics executives released a joint statement on the 15th, saying, "We have caused great burden and concern to the public and the government over our labor issues," and added, "We bow our heads deeply and apologize."
The apology was signed by Jeon Young-hyun, head of the Device Solutions (DS) Division and vice chairman, Roh Tae-moon, head of the Device eXperience (DX) Division and president, as well as Kim Su-mok, Kim Yong-kwan, Kim Woo-joon, Kim Won-kyung, Nam Seok-woo, Mauro Porcini, Park Seung-hee, Park Yong-in, Park Hong-geun, Baek Su-hyeon, Song Jae-hyuk, Yong Seok-woo, Yoon Jang-hyun, Wonjin Lee, Won Choi and Han Jin-man, among other key Samsung Electronics executives. As the labor dispute has expanded beyond a simple wage negotiation into issues involving the semiconductor supply chain, a core national industry, and management stability, the leadership appears to have stepped in collectively to try to contain the fallout.
The executives stressed, "The greater our achievements become, the stricter and higher society's expectations of Samsung are, but we failed to properly address them," adding, "Samsung Electronics executives feel a heavy sense of responsibility." They continued, "This is an era of limitless competition, where the global business environment changes every moment," and said, "We cannot waste time on internal problems."
Turning to the union, they said, "We will approach the talks with an open mind and without conditions, believing that we are one family and share the same fate," making clear their willingness to resume dialogue. At the same time, they urged, "We once again ask the union to come to the table soon, taking into account public concern and the national economy."
The Samsung Electronics Branch of the Supra-Enterprise Labor Union, the company's largest union, is planning a general strike on the 21st, demanding the institutionalization of performance-based bonuses. Labor and management remain far apart on the key issue of whether to formalize bonuses linked to operating profit and abolish the cap, and observers say it remains uncertain whether a dramatic breakthrough will be reached.
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soup@fnnews.com Im Su-bin, Jeong Won-il Reporter