Unionized workers at Samsung Electronics in South Korea have initiated an indefinite strike in a bid to push for higher wages and improved benefits. The National Samsung Electronics Union, comprising thousands of members, had initially launched a temporary three-day strike on Monday. However, the union announced on Wednesday that it would be escalating the strike to an indefinite one, citing the management's reluctance to engage in negotiations.
Despite the strike action, Samsung Electronics has stated that there have been no disruptions to its production lines. The company has affirmed its commitment to conducting negotiations with the union in good faith to resolve the ongoing dispute.
In response, the union has indicated that it has caused disruptions on the company's production lines as a means to compel the management to return to the negotiating table. The union expressed confidence in the success of their efforts, although the exact number of members participating in the extended strike was not disclosed.
While the union's earlier three-day strike saw 6,540 members participating, this represents only a fraction of Samsung Electronics' global workforce, which is estimated at around 267,860 employees, with approximately 120,000 based in South Korea.
Previous discussions between the union and management regarding demands for increased wages and better working conditions have failed to yield an agreement. Earlier this year, some union members resorted to a one-day walkout using their annual leave, marking the first labor strike at Samsung Electronics.
The National Samsung Electronics Union, reportedly comprising around 30,000 Samsung workers, is the largest union within the company, with some members belonging to smaller unions as well.
In a notable shift, Samsung's chief had pledged to cease suppressing employee unionization efforts in 2020, following his implication in a major corruption scandal in 2016. The company's historical union-busting practices have faced criticism from activists over the years, although labor actions are common in various sectors of South Korean society.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, thousands of medical interns and residents in South Korea have been on strike since February, protesting a government proposal to significantly increase medical school admissions.
