Unionized workers at Samsung Electronics have escalated their labor action by declaring an indefinite strike aimed at pressuring South Korea’s largest company to meet their demands for higher wages and improved benefits.
The National Samsung Electronics Union, representing thousands of workers, initially began with a temporary three-day strike on Monday. However, citing management’s reluctance to engage in negotiations, the union announced the extension to an indefinite strike effective Wednesday. Samsung Electronics, on its part, has stated that production has not been disrupted.
In response to the strike, Samsung Electronics issued a statement affirming its commitment to maintaining production continuity and expressing willingness to negotiate with the union in good faith.
Meanwhile, the union claims to have caused disruptions on Samsung’s production lines, with the intention of compelling management to return to the negotiating table. “We are confident of our victory,” the union declared in a statement posted on its website.
The exact number of union members participating in the extended strike has not been specified. Initially, the union reported that 6,540 members participated in the three-day strike, a small fraction of Samsung Electronics’ global workforce estimated at around 267,860, with approximately 120,000 employees based in South Korea.
Earlier negotiations between the union and management this year failed to reach an agreement on issues including wage increases and working conditions. Previous labor actions at Samsung Electronics included a one-day walkout in June, marking a significant development as labor strikes at the company have been relatively rare historically.
Samsung Electronics, home to about 30,000 workers affiliated with various unions, including the National Samsung Electronics Union, has faced criticism in the past for its approach to union activities. In 2020, Samsung’s leadership pledged to stop suppressing union organizing efforts, following scrutiny over alleged involvement in a major corruption scandal.
Labor disputes are not uncommon in South Korea, with ongoing strikes in other sectors such as healthcare highlighting broader societal concerns. Thousands of medical interns and residents have been on strike since February, protesting government plans to increase medical school admissions significantly.
The standoff between Samsung Electronics and its unionized workforce underscores ongoing challenges in labor relations within South Korea’s corporate landscape, reflecting broader dynamics of employee rights and corporate governance.