The Samsung Electronics labor union has obtained the legal right to strike and has announced plans to initiate strike actions, following a vote in which 74% of union members supported the strike.
The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) declared on Apr. 8, that 74% of all union members voted in favor of the strike that will take place from Mar. 18 to Apr. 5. The union informed that out of a total of 27,458 union members, 28,853 participated in the vote.
After the Central Labor Commission’s decision to suspend mediation following the collapse of labor-management wage negotiations in February, the union legally secured the right to strike.
The union has announced that it will be conducting a peaceful strike at the Samsung Electronics DSR Tower in Hwaseong on Apr. 17.
A letter has been sent by the union to the executive management of the company, which includes Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee, and President Kyung Kye-hyun, informing them of the strike.
Samsung Electronics agreed to increase their average wages by 5.1% this year through negotiations with the labor-management council on Mar. 29.
However, the union, separate from the council, declared a negotiation failure and demanded a 6.5% wage increase rate, an additional day of paid leave, and conducted on-site rotating strikes.
If the union goes on strike, it will be the first time in Samsung Electronics’ history since its establishment in 1969. The union gained the right to strike by applying for strike mediation in 2022 and 2023 but did not actually go on strike.
