SEOUL (Reuters) – Samsung Electronics’ largest union held its first day of strike on Friday to demand higher wages.
The Samsung Electronics National Union (NSEU), which has some 28,000 members, or a fifth of the South Korean company’s employees, has called for a one-day stoppage on June 7.
The strike is unlikely to have an immediate effect on semiconductor production or shipments, but it will add pressure on Samsung Electronics as it tries to catch up in chips used in technology. artificial intelligence (AI), according to analysts.
“The aim of the (organized) strike today is to have an important conversation with management,” NSEU representative Lee Hyun-kuk told Reuters. He added that the union was preparing further actions on Friday, without providing details.
Samsung Electronics said there was no impact on production or business activity.
“We have sincerely engaged with the union and will continue discussions with them,” said a representative of the group.
The one-day strike comes after Samsung employees staged several protests outside the company’s offices in Seoul, the Korean capital, in recent weeks.
Faced with union demands, Samsung Electronics has proposed a 5.1% salary increase this year, but demonstrators are also demanding an additional day off and greater transparency on the allocation of bonuses based on performance.
(French version Camille Raynaud)
