A major labor union representing tens of thousands of workers at South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics announced on Wednesday that workers would strike for the first time, potentially impacting the global semiconductor supply chain.
A spokesman stated that 28,000 union members, around 20 percent of the company’s workforce, would go on strike for one day on June 7 using their annual leave. There is also a possibility of a general strike in the future.
Negotiations between management at the world’s largest memory chip maker and the labor union over wages have been ongoing since January, with no agreement reached so far.
In a livestreamed press conference, a spokesman for the Samsung Electronics National Union declared the strike as a response to the company’s perceived disrespect towards its workers. The union leader, Song Woo-mok, mentioned that they accepted the company’s proposed wage increase but were seeking an extra holiday day and a transparent system for performance bonuses based on sales profits.
A Samsung official stated that the company would continue dialogue with the labor union, while a union spokesman warned that the one-day walkout could escalate to a general strike if not addressed by the company.
Samsung Electronics, a major smartphone maker and producer of high-performance memory chips, has faced criticism for its anti-union stance over the years. The company is a flagship subsidiary of Samsung Group, the largest conglomerate in South Korea.
Organizers seized the opportunity to form the union in 2019 amid controversies involving the government and the founder’s grandson. Critics argue that Samsung Electronics has historically used harsh tactics to prevent unionization.
The strike could have a significant impact on the company and the semiconductor industry, which requires swift responses. Unlike Hyundai, which has faced strikes annually, Samsung management may struggle to handle the situation as they have never dealt with a strike before.
Source: www.theguardian.com
