On the eve of a general strike by the Samsung Electronics union, the union and shareholder groups will hold back-to-back rallies near the home of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong.
With the post-mediation procedure at the Central Labor Relations Commission concluded, the union plans to proceed with the strike on the 21st as scheduled, but a last-minute deal remains possible as the Minister of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) personally stepped in to mediate.
According to police and industry sources on the 20th, the Samsung Electronics supra-enterprise union filed notice that it will hold a rally from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the 21st near the chairman's residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. The reported headcount is 500.
On the same day, shareholder groups also announced rallies near the same location. The Korea Shareholder Movement Headquarters said it will hold a "Samsung Electronics shareholder total-mobilization rally" from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. near the chairman's residence. The reported headcount is 30. The Samsung Electronics Shareholder Action Implementation Headquarters also said it will hold a rally of 30 people around Exit 1 of Hangangjin Station.
That morning, in the post-mediation by the Central Labor Relations Commission, the union accepted the proposal, but the management side deferred its decision, ending the procedure. Accordingly, the union maintains it will begin a general strike on the 21st as scheduled.
However, with Minister Kim Young-hoon of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) personally stepping in to mediate, the possibility of a dramatic deal right before the strike is being discussed. Labor-management talks are continuing from 4 p.m. at the Gyeonggi Employment and Labor Office.