Samsung Electronics is set to face a four-day strike starting Thursday, as South Korea’s largest workers’ union seeks higher wages and better bonuses. The strike comes after negotiations with the company’s management failed in July.
Lee Hyun-kuk, vice president of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), announced in a live YouTube broadcast, “This strike is strategically designed to damage the company.” The NSEU, representing 36,500 members—approximately 30% of Samsung’s South Korean workforce—anticipates production disruptions due to a lack of backup office workers, many of whom will be on national holiday this Thursday.
Samsung has responded, stating, “The company is committed to preventing production disruptions and will enforce its no-work, no-pay policy. We are also continuing efforts to resume negotiations with the union.”
Previously, the union had called for an indefinite strike in July but instructed members to return to work in early August following failed talks. The union plans to use unexpected strikes as a tactic to secure improved pay and benefits.
Despite the union’s claims, Samsung reported that the July strike did not affect production.
Philips Babatunde