Samsung Electronics Management: 'We Will Act Responsibly' – Urgent Message Before April 21 Strike
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- Samsung Electronics' semiconductor and DX division heads have urged employees to act responsibly ahead of a planned union strike.
- The union is demanding the abolition of performance bonus caps and a 15% profit share, threatening a two-week strike starting April 21.
- Management expressed regret over the lack of agreement and emphasized the need to protect the company's future competitiveness amid global economic challenges.
The leadership at Samsung Electronics is making a final, urgent appeal to its workforce as the specter of a major union strike looms. In a joint message, Vice Chairman Jeon Young-hyun of the semiconductor division and President Roh Tae-moon of the DX division have called for a responsible approach, acknowledging the gravity of the situation.
We will continue discussions with an open mind and strive to find a direction that employees can empathize with.
With the union's planned two-week strike set to commence on April 21, the company's top executives are expressing deep regret that a final agreement has not yet been reached. They highlighted that the company has consistently sought to present alternatives that consider the future competitiveness of the business and the interests of all employees. However, the path to mutual understanding remains elusive.
We regret that we have not yet reached a final agreement in the negotiation process.
This situation is particularly critical given the current global economic climate. The management's message underscores a profound concern: the potential for irreparable damage to Samsung's hard-won competitive edge. They are imploring every employee to fulfill their roles diligently to prevent such an outcome. The leadership, including themselves, pledges to approach the situation with the utmost responsibility, recognizing the significant impact a prolonged labor dispute could have not only on Samsung but also on the national economy.
All of us, including myself, will act with a sense of responsibility to ensure we do not lose our future competitiveness in this serious global business environment.
Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.