As the risk of a general strike at Samsung Electronics intensifies, the union attended the second hearing date for an injunction to ban illegal industrial action. The union said it will carry out industrial action lawfully.
On the morning of the 13th, Choi Seung-ho, chairperson of the Samsung Electronics chapter of the super-company labor union, the largest union at Samsung Electronics, attended the second hearing date for an injunction to ban illegal industrial action at the Suwon District Court. Speaking to reporters, Choi said, "Regarding the industrial action, management talks about the possibility of threats or violence, but we have no intention of doing anything like that."
Choi, the chairperson, regarding management's concern about institutionalizing performance bonuses, said, "We are proposing to receive performance bonuses by applying a percentage to operating profit," adding, "If there are no results, we will of course not receive (performance bonuses)." He added, "It cannot be said that SK hynix, which is implementing the same system, has made it rigid up to now."
He continued, "As we have continually said, compensation linked to SK hynix could lead to (Samsung) being called 'the SK hynix military academy,'" adding, "These parts can clearly be changed and institutionalized, and I believe it is hard to accept a plan that compensates only the DS division with a one-off special management performance bonus."
Earlier at dawn the same day, Choi, the chairperson, declared a breakdown after a 17-hour post-mediation meeting. The union said the talks collapsed because the mediation plan did not reflect, and in fact regressed from, the consistent demands to abolish the performance bonus cap, improve transparency, and institutionalize the system.
With post-mediation talks breaking down, the union plans to carry out an 18-day general strike starting on the 21st, as previously announced.
Meanwhile, the court is said to be planning to issue a decision before the 21st, the scheduled start date of the general strike, in the injunction case filed by Samsung Electronics against the union.