Talks between Samsung Electronics labor and management, held two days before the announced general strike date, appear to be making progress. However, Park Soo-geun, chair of the Central Labor Relations Commission (CLRC), said “two issues are not narrowing,” indicating that key points of contention still remain.

Samsung Electronics labor and management are holding the second post-mediation meeting of the CLRC at the Government Complex Sejong starting at 10 a.m. on the 19th. The meeting is divided into sessions from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., and 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The CLRC is first mediating so that the parties can autonomously draw up a proposal, and if no agreement is reached, it plans to present a mediation proposal.

Asked before the start of post-mediation whether a proposal would be presented, Chair Park replied, “I will issue one after seeing whether the two sides can ultimately reach a settlement.” On whether there had been progress, he said, “Some of the differences are narrowing,” adding, “Shouldn’t we hurry to reach a deal and go eat?”

During the lunch break, when asked whether the differences had narrowed, Park answered, “A little,” hinting at some progress. On whether a proposal would be presented, he said, “Not yet, but there is a possibility in the evening.” According to Park, negotiations are also under way on the distribution rates of performance bonuses by business division.

At the same time, Choi Seung-ho, head of the Samsung Electronics chapter of the Samsung Group supra-enterprise union, said, “We will do our utmost to produce a result that can satisfy union members.” When asked whether the demand to institutionalize performance bonuses was being maintained, he answered, “Yes.”

As he entered the afternoon session, Park said, “Labor and management are making small concessions,” but added, “The two issues are still not narrowing.” It is presumed that the final-stage talks center on what percentage of operating profit will be allocated as the funding pool for performance bonuses, and whether to codify this “institutionalization” in documents such as the collective agreement. Regarding whether a draft mediation proposal had been prepared, Park said, “Would it not be better not to make one?” while also saying, “We will propose it in the afternoon.”

The second post-mediation, continuing from the previous day, is scheduled to end at 7 p.m. today. If the sides narrow their differences on some issues and produce an agreement, the meeting could conclude earlier than scheduled.