Samsung union starts “indefinite strike”

The strike by the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) could ultimately lead to the unemployment of 31,000 workers, almost a quarter of the company’s entire South Korean workforce. However, the number of those currently on strike is much smaller.

About 6,000 workers went on strike from Monday but were due to return to work on Thursday. However, the NSEU says the company is unwilling to negotiate over a growing dispute over compensation and has therefore declared the strike indefinite. The union did not disclose how many members would take part in the indefinite strike but admitted Reuters There was not enough time to inform the members about the work topics.

In addition to higher salaries, the union is demanding an additional day of vacation for employees and changes to the bonus system for its employees.

Samsung said there had been no production disruptions due to the work stoppage, adding in a statement that the company “remains willing to negotiate with the union in good faith.” The union said on its website that it was “confident of our victory.”

Even if all NSEU members join the strike – which is by no means certain – they will only represent a fraction of the company’s global workforce. Samsung employs over 267,000 people worldwide, 120,000 of them in South Korea alone.

Industrial action is something new for Samsung. Activists have long accused the company of union busting. A one-day strike in June was the first industrial action the company has ever experienced.

The announcement of the NSEU strike proceedings came at the same time as Samsung’s recent Unpacked event in Paris, where it unveiled the Galaxy Ring health tracking device, a new generation of foldable Galaxy phones and a new line of Galaxy smartwatches, including a new Ultra model.