Park Su-keun, chairperson of the Central Labor Relations Commission presiding over post-mediation between Samsung Electronics labor and management, said on the 19th, "If there is no agreement by around 10 p.m., the commission will submit a mediation proposal."
The mediation proposal is a final plan crafted by a mediator of the Central Labor Relations Commission after compiling labor and management views and striking a compromise. If labor and management accept and sign the proposal, it carries the same legal effect as a collective agreement. However, if either side rejects it, the talks collapse. In that case, the general strike the union has warned of could begin on the 21st.
Meeting with reporters around 7:20 p.m. while heading to dinner, the chairperson said, "By around 10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m., either an agreement will be reached, a mediation proposal will come out, or a decision on approval or disapproval will be made." If labor and management do not reach a deal by 10:30 p.m., the commission will present a mediation proposal.
Originally, the meeting was scheduled from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. that day. But Samsung Electronics labor and management failed to reach an agreement, and the meeting has been extended.
At present, the commission has presented an alternative to the management side to induce a voluntary settlement, and management is said to be reviewing it. The chairperson said, "The labor side cannot decide on immediate acceptance because a vote by union members is required, and if management presents a reviewed plan, the union will ultimately put it to a vote of its members."
If management accepts the alternative, the union will put it to a vote of its members to decide whether to accept it. If approved, the talks will conclude, but if rejected, it could lead to the general strike the union has warned of. The government plans to consider invoking an emergency mediation order to forcibly halt the strike, given the potential impact on the national economy. If management rejects the alternative, the commission plans to present an arbitration proposal.
Meanwhile, labor and management have not reached agreement on key sticking points, including abolishing the cap on performance bonuses and institutionalizing performance-based bonuses.