On May 20, the union's joint action headquarters announced that the planned strike from May 21 to June 7 would be postponed until further notice. All members are expected to participate in a vote on the tentative wage agreement from May 23 at 9 a.m. to May 28 at 10 a.m.
Choi Seung-ho, chairman of the union's joint action headquarters, expressed gratitude for the government's mediation efforts and acknowledged the internal conflicts that had caused public concern. He stated, "We have reached a tentative agreement just hours before the strike and decided to postpone it. The vote will take place from May 22 to 27."
Yeom Young-gu, head of the Samsung Electronics DS People Team, apologized to employees for the prolonged negotiations and thanked the union and the government for their efforts. He emphasized the importance of the agreement in fostering a cooperative labor-management culture and committed to implementing the terms faithfully.
Minister Kim remarked, "Our support for democracy stems from our belief in the power of dialogue to address common challenges. I extend my sincere gratitude to both parties for reaching a tentative agreement through autonomous negotiations."
He acknowledged the anxiety felt by the public amid challenging domestic and international conditions and credited the government's role in facilitating dialogue. "This is a growing pain, and I believe it demonstrates the K-competitiveness of resolving issues through conversation," he added.
Regarding the specifics of the agreement, Kim noted that while there were contentious issues, both sides made concessions to find a solution. Choi explained that the company agreed to postpone the distribution method for loss-making divisions for one year, which had been a point of contention.
Yeom added that the company and the union shared a common goal and worked collaboratively to resolve the issues, highlighting the minister's contributions to the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
The tentative agreement was reached after the labor committee's mediation failed earlier that morning. Kim emphasized the government's commitment to facilitating dialogue and understanding the reasons behind the breakdown in negotiations to find a way forward.
He concluded by stating that while principles are important, there are no absolute exceptions, and he was pleased that the company accepted the agreement. Yeom noted that the agreement reflects a commitment to rewarding performance while adhering to fundamental principles.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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