Prime minister hints at compulsory arbitration over Samsung union strike

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok on Sunday hinted at the possibility of invoking emergency arbitration in the labor dispute between Samsung Electronics’ management and unions, urging the two sides to reach an outcome in the additional round of wage talks scheduled for Monday. It was the first time the government had officially mentioned the potential use of the emergency measure, which is often regarded as a last resort in labor disputes. Kim’s remarks served as a strong warning ahead of what may be the last chance for a settlement before the unions begin an 18-day strike Thursday, which could cause losses of up to 100 trillion won ($66.67 billion), according to Kim. “If the strike inflicts enormous damage on the national economy, the government will have no choice but to consider all possible response measures, including an emergency adjustment of industrial action, in order to protect the economy,” Kim said during a press conference. “I, along with fellow Korean citizens, sincerely urge labor and management to produce tangible results in tomorrow’s follow-up mediation session,Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times