Workers mull late-May walkout as three unions cast ballots for 18-day stoppage
Unionized employees across the South Korean subsidiary of Samsung Electronics are currently voting on an proposal to stage a potential eighteen-day strike beginning May twenty-first if approved by members, according to statements from participating labor organizations including SELU and others represented in three separate unions covering approximately eighty-nine thousand out of one hundred thirty thousand staff.
Key Points
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1Samsung electronics' three unions in South Korea have initiated voting among their members regarding an upcoming eighteen-day work stoppage.
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2The strike is scheduled to commence on May 21 if the workers approve the proposal, marking a significant labor action for Samsung Electronics since its founding.
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3Approximately eighty-nine thousand out of one hundred thirty thousand employees are represented by these three unions preparing this potential walkout.
Developments
Samsung's three unions are voting on an upcoming strike scheduled from May 21 to June 7, which would mark only their second walkout in the company's history and coincide with critical production of HBM4 chips essential for Nvidia AI accelerators. The labor groups represent roughly 89% of Samsung employees seeking a pay raise while removing performance bonus caps amid concerns that an industrial action could disrupt manufacturing during this pivotal period.
Unionized workers at Samsung Electronics are set to vote on launching an 18-day strike from May 21 through June 7, following controversy over threats that non-participants could face disadvantages such as forced transfers or dismissal. The three largest unions representing approximately 90% of the company's workforce plan a general walkout for these dates after previously threatening penalties and offering rewards to members who report others working during the strike period.