Blue House: "There Is Still Time Before Samsung Electronics Union Strike... Government to Actively Support Dialogue"

Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson of the Blue House, Holds Briefing
When Asked About "Emergency Arbitration Authority," Says "There Is Still Time"

Yonhap News Agency

The Blue House stated on May 13 that, regarding the breakdown of the post-mediation process in wage negotiations between management and the labor union at Samsung Electronics, "There is still time before the strike," and added, "The government intends to actively support both parties to resolve the issue through dialogue before the strike notice date."

Kang Yoo-jung, Chief Spokesperson for the Blue House, responded as such during a briefing at Chunchugwan that afternoon when asked about the argument that "the government should block the strike by the Samsung Electronics union even by exercising the emergency adjustment right." However, Chief Spokesperson Kang declined to comment on the use or consideration of the emergency adjustment right, stating, "I would like to answer by saying that there is still time for labor-management dialogue."

The emergency adjustment right is a measure under Article 76 of the Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act (the Union Act), which the Minister of Employment and Labor may invoke when a labor dispute is likely to endanger the daily lives of the public or significantly harm the national economy. If the emergency adjustment right is exercised, industrial action is prohibited for 30 days, during which the Central Labor Relations Commission conducts mediation and arbitration procedures.

Previously, management and the labor union at Samsung Electronics held a second post-mediation meeting at the Central Labor Relations Commission in the Sejong Government Complex to conclude the 2026 wage agreement, but the talks ended in a final breakdown at 3 a.m. on the 13th. The union has already announced that, if negotiations break down, it will launch a general strike on the 21st.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.