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The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), representing workers at the South Korean tech giant Samsung Electronics, has called on its roughly 30,000 members to commence an indefinite strike as part of their campaign for better pay and benefits.
This announcement follows a previous three-day walkout that failed to make progress in the ongoing dispute between the workers and the company. The earlier strike involved more than 6,000 workers, primarily from the semiconductor division, according to the union.
The NSEU, which represents a quarter of Samsung’s total workforce in South Korea, will begin an indefinite strike on July 10. This marks the largest labour action in the brand’s history.
In a statement posted on its official website, the union warned that Samsung would “regret this decision” not to engage in negotiations. The union also claimed that their actions had disrupted production, a claim that Samsung disputes.
“Samsung Electronics will ensure no disruptions occur in the production lines. The company remains committed to engaging in good faith negotiations with the union,” Samsung told BBC News. The company reiterated this stance in a statement on Wednesday, emphasising its commitment to ongoing negotiations and maintaining production continuity. However, Son Woomok, the union leader, told CNN on Monday that “it will take a long time to restore facilities that are shut down due to a strike.”
Negotiations for a more transparent pay structure and better working conditions reached an impasse in June, prompting the union to stage a one-day strike.
Samsung Workers Push for Better Pay and Benefits
The union demands a 6.5% pay increase and a bonus linked to the company’s earnings. Responding to the company’s decision to increase wages this year by 5.1%, the union has previously said that it wants an additional day of annual leave and transparent performance-based bonuses.
A union official defended the decision to take industrial action despite some parts of Samsung’s business underperforming. “The company has claimed they are facing a crisis for the past 10 years,” the official told reporters, adding that this should not be used as an excuse to ignore the union’s demands.
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