Samsung Electronics’ union in South Korea plans to launch a four-day strike this week, the latest escalation in contract talks.
The National Samsung Electronics Union announced Tuesday that its workers would be walking off the job Thursday. According to union Vice President Lee Hyun-kuk, the strike was purposely planned to fall on South Korea’s National Day of Liberation.
The union doesn’t expect Samsung to have the staff required to fill the vacant positions during the strike, which the NSEU hopes will bring the tech giant to the bargaining table.
Samsung rejected the union’s predictions, saying it expects no major disruptions to production and that the company looks forward to continuing contract negotiations with the NSEU.
This week’s planned work stoppage comes one month after the NSEU announced an indefinite strike. After nearly two weeks of walk-offs, union leadership called off the indefinite strike after unproductive negotiations with Samsung.
During the sustained strike, Samsung reported no major hits to production. Analysts suggested that the NSEU didn’t have the required turnout numbers to put significant pressure on the company.
The union has disputed these claims, pointing out that the NSEU represents over 30% of Samsung’s employees, or 36,500 workers. The NSEU is asking for improved pay and benefits as well as changes to paid leave.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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