Samsung Electronics Labor and Management Enter Post-Mediation [Sejong=Yonhap News]

It has been reported that the vice-chairman of the largest labor union, which is leading Samsung Electronics' general strike, made extreme remarks the day before the post-mediation process, conducted under government mediation, stating, "It's right to abolish the company. We are prepared for a spin-off."

The situation resembles a tense preliminary skirmish outside the negotiation table, with the largest union's chairman reacting against the government's mention of a potential emergency mediation order to increase the possibility of successful post-mediation, saying, "We will not yield," even before negotiations have begun.

According to industry sources on the 17th, Lee Song-yi, vice-chairman of the Samsung branch of the Samsung Group's Super Union (hereinafter referred to as Super Union), demanded participation in the strike in the union's Telegram communication channel on the same day, stating, "We take responsibility for bringing it to this point," and "If they want to spin off, let them. It's right for us to just abolish Samsung Electronics."

She further emphasized, "I am not doing this for money," and "I am delivering this with the understanding of a spin-off. If we falter this time, Samsung Electronics will cease to exist."

In a one-on-one conversation with a union member who saw these posts, Vice-Chairman Lee expressed her frustrations, saying, "I want to just punch the company's XX," "Stop talking about family," and "If I go to prison, I'll have time to read books and exercise."

The conversation through one-on-one chat became known externally when the union member shared it on the union's community forums.

Some union members are reacting that Vice-Chairman Lee's mention of a spin-off could further inflame conflicts, especially since the Super Union is already facing growing internal conflicts due to its focus solely on performance-based pay for the semiconductor division (DS - Device Solutions) and is now being joined by Vice-Chairman Lee, who belongs to the non-semiconductor division (DX - Device Experience).

Chairman Choi Seung-ho leaving the court [Suwon=Yonhap News]

These remarks came amid the government hinting at the possibility of invoking emergency mediation powers ahead of the second post-mediation meeting of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) on the 18th.

Choi Seung-ho, chairman of the Super Union, announced that he had a preliminary meeting with the management on the same day and stated, "The management is pressuring the union by hinting at the government's emergency mediation order. The company's attitude seems to have changed after the government's mention of emergency mediation."

He further emphasized, "They said it would be difficult for the union if it went to emergency mediation or arbitration, so I told them 'let's stop talking' and left. They are pressuring us by saying the damage will be significant, but we will not yield."

Chairman Choi also revealed that in the meeting that day, the management presented a proposal that had regressed from the review plan proposed by the NLRC during the first post-mediation session.

He added that he conveyed that this was "unacceptable" and stated that if the management maintained the same stance in tomorrow's post-mediation session, they would not reach an agreement.

According to Chairman Choi, the management's "regressed proposal" suggests allowing a choice between 20% of EVA (Economic Value Added) or 10% of operating profit, while maintaining the cap on the OPI (Ongoing Profit Improvement) fund (50% of annual salary). If the semiconductor (DS) division's operating profit exceeds 200 trillion won, it proposes to divide a fund of 9-10% of operating profit, separately from OPI, into 60% for the entire division and 40% by business unit.

In contrast, the union is insisting on institutionalizing the payment of 15% of operating profit as performance bonuses without a cap. They are demanding that the performance bonus fund be divided into 70% for the DS division as a whole and 30% by business unit.

Samsung Electronics' labor and management are scheduled to hold their second post-mediation meeting, which is expected to be the final opportunity for dialogue before the strike, at the NLRC in Sejong starting at 10 AM on the 18th.