Trade unionists at Samsung Electronics declare second strike without time limit

“We are calling a second general strike for an indefinite period after confirming management’s unwillingness to talk after the first general strike,” the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) said in a statement on its website on July 10.

Previously, the NSEU had launched a first three-day general strike from July 8 to 10, aimed at disrupting production at Samsung Electronics factories.

According to NSEU, 6,540 workers expressed their intention to participate in the first general strike. Of these, 5,211 were employed in the fabrication, manufacturing and development sectors. Of the 5,211 workers, 4,477 were at the Giheung, Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek plants with key semiconductor production lines.

At a resolution meeting on the first day of the first general strike, the NSEU announced that it would strike indefinitely if management did not submit an acceptable proposal by July 10. However, as the talks failed to make any progress, it decided to call a second general strike.

“The longer the strike continues, the more difficulties management will face and they will eventually come to the negotiating table with their tail between their legs,” the NSEU said. “We are confident of winning this fight.”

“We will not stop until we receive an offer from the management to compensate for our strike-related losses,” the NSEU added, announcing policies such as no work until instructed by the union leadership, no work reports during the strike and no work reports after the industrial dispute is resolved.

They also demanded that management increase the basic wage of all union members by 3.5 percent, guarantee a day off in honor of the union’s founding, improve the OPI-TAI system and compensate members for the economic losses they suffered as a result of the strike.