Despite threats of job cuts, thousands of Samsung workers go on indefinite strike

By Abdul Rahman / Peoples Dispatch

On Wednesday, July 10, thousands of workers at Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest memory chip maker, in South Korea called an “indefinite strike” on the last day of their three-day strike to protest the company’s refusal to engage in dialogue and listen to their demands.

The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), which is leading the strike, urged its members in a statement on its website not to “grow tired” and to continue the strike until further instructions are given.

The NSEU has around 30,000 members and represents 24% of all workers at Samsung Electronics. According to NSEU, over 6,540 workers have participated in the various strike actions. Striking workers have held rallies outside the factory gate on each strike day so far to send a message to the tech giant that refuses to listen to workers. Management has even threatened to hire replacement workers if the strike does not end.

The workers affiliated with the NSEU first began their strike on Monday, July 8, at Samsung’s electronics factory in Hwaseong, 45 kilometers from Seoul. The NSEU began the strike to press for its demands for a minimum 5.6% increase in basic wages for all workers, as well as more transparency in pay and compensation for members who have or have participated in the strikes. They are also demanding a one-day annual paid holiday for all employees on the founding day.

The NSEU had been negotiating these demands with Samsung management since January. It had already reduced its demand for a wage increase from 6.5% to 5.6% in order to find a common bargaining basis. However, the company stuck to its 5.1% annual wage increase previously agreed with some workers. Several rounds of talks took place before the union finally decided to take mass action.

The NSEU held a one-day strike in June. It was the first strike in Samsung Electronics’ 55-year history in South Korea. Samsung has so far denied that the series of strikes has had an impact on production, while the union claims that production has been disrupted.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, July 10, around 60,000 members of the Korean Metalworkers’ Union (KMWU), which is subordinate to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), went on an eight-hour strike. The Korean period reported.

The strike was called to protest against the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s pro-business policies. The strike is part of the union’s efforts to support the passage of the Trade Union and Labor Adjustment Bill, which is pending in the National Assembly. If the bill is passed, it would make it difficult for management to demand compensation from workers for strike action.

Although the KMWU belongs to two different trade union federations in the country, it supported the NSEU’s call for a strike.

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