Samsung Electronics unions refuse further talks with management

After a government-arranged mediation session ended without progress, the leader of Samsung Electronics labor unions’ said Wednesday that the unions are “not considering additional talks with management” until after the 18-day strike scheduled to start on May 21. Choi Seung-ho, head of Samsung Electronics Labor Union, which leads an alliance of three unions in joint negotiations, said they have no intention of participating in additional mediation sessions, arguing that the company’s proposals have shown no meaningful progress during the past five months. “We lowered our demands to make an agreement possible, but the company’s proposal has not changed at all,” Choi told reporters after a court hearing on the company’s injunction request seeking to ban the strike. “Extending mediation further under such circumstances would only weaken momentum for the general strike.” The remarks came after the follow-up mediation session ended earlier in the day without results, increasing the likelihood of the strike, which is expected to see strong participation by employees from t

Original source: Korea Times