Samsung Electronics labor and management leave negotiation venue [Sejong=Yonhap News]

Samsung Electronics' labor and management, facing a strike crisis, engaged in a tense tug-of-war over performance-based pay criteria during the second post-mediation session at the Central Labor Relations Commission (CLRC) on the 18th.

Samsung Electronics' labor and management held the post-mediation session at the CLRC in the Government Complex-Sejong from 10 a.m. to 6:20 p.m. on the day. The session concluded 40 minutes earlier than the originally scheduled 7 p.m.

Choi Seung-ho, head of the Samsung Electronics Labor Union's Joint Struggle Headquarters, emerged from the meeting room and told reporters, "The union is participating in the negotiations in good faith for now. We will attend again tomorrow at 10 a.m."

However, Choi did not answer questions such as "Was there any change in the company's stance?", "Do you think a deal will be reached tomorrow?", or "What are your thoughts on the court's injunction against the labor action?" before leaving the building.

Yeo Myung-gu, head of the DS (Device Solutions, semiconductor business) People Team, also remained silent when approached by reporters.

Park Soo-geun, a CLRC mediator, responded to the question of "Will you present a mediation proposal tomorrow?" by saying, "Wouldn't it be necessary to do so?"

In the morning session on the day, Samsung Electronics' labor and management primarily stated their respective positions. In the afternoon, intense negotiations began on key issues such as the criteria for performance-based pay funds and upper limits.

A CLRC official evaluated the meeting with a somewhat positive outlook.

Park Jeong-beom, head of the CLRC Mediation Division, who attended the meeting, stated, "Labor and management actively participated. We have heard as much as we could from both sides." When asked if any common ground had been found, he replied, "We are working towards it."

Park added, "We heard if there were any changes to the various proposals presented so far. The proceedings were smooth."

Labor and management will hold another post-mediation session on the 19th, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Currently, the CLRC's goal is to hear the opinions of both sides as much as possible by the 19th and devise a mediation proposal by finding common ground.

However, if discussions are prolonged, the meeting's closing time may be further delayed, and there is a possibility of extension to the 20th.

The first post-mediation session, held on the 11th and 12th, also concluded after midnight on the 12th, extending into the early morning of the 13th.

Considering that the union's planned strike date is approaching rapidly on the 21st, this post-mediation session is considered the last negotiation opportunity.

The government had previously hinted at the possibility of exercising emergency mediation rights to prevent a strike. The Samsung Electronics Union and the broader labor movement have expressed their opposition to this.