Thousands of Samsung workers staged a three-day strike on Monday, demanding better pay and benefits.
The protest, marked by workers wearing rain jackets and solidarity ribbons, took place outside the company’s key factory in Hwaseong, near Seoul.
The strike comes as Samsung, the world’s largest memory chip manufacturer, faces pressure to address workers’ concerns amid its dominant position in the global semiconductor industry.
The labour union leader, representing tens of thousands of Samsung employees, warned that the ongoing strike could disrupt memory chip production, speaking to AFP. Despite negotiations between the union and management since January, an agreement has yet to be reached.
The strike, which began on Monday, is expected to continue until Wednesday, according to AFP. This development raises significant concerns for Samsung, given its position as the world’s largest memory chip manufacturer and its substantial contribution to the global supply of high-end chips.
Thousands of Samsung workers congregated outside the company’s foundry and semiconductor factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, just an hour south of Seoul, to protest and strike.
The work stoppage, announced last week, follows a breakdown in negotiations and comes after a one-day walkout in June, marking a significant shift in the company’s historically non-unionized workforce.
Since January, management and the union have been in talks, but a deadlock persists over benefits and a proposed 5.1% pay increase, which the union rejected.
The strike, deemed a last resort, highlights the deepening labor dispute at the tech giant.
The head of the National Samsung Electronics Union, Son Woo-mok told AFP, “The strike has started from today. Today’s general strike is just the beginning.”
While addressing the workers, he said, “Recalling why we are here, please do not come to work until July 10th and do not receive any business calls.”
As per the union, around 5,200 people from factory facilities, manufacturing and development have joined the protest.
The vice president of the union told AFP, “Do they still not think this will affect their production line?”
In March, the workers turned down a 5.1% pay increase offer because their previous demands, outlined by the union, were ignored.
The union had sought improvements to annual leave policies and transparent performance-based bonuses, but these requests were disregarded, leading to the rejection of the pay hike offer and escalating the labour dispute.