Samsung Electronics Union to Vote on Strike: What This Means for Workers in 2024

Samsung Electronics’ labor union is set to conduct a strike-authorization vote starting May 9th, with the goal of initiating a general strike later in the month.

On May 5th, the union’s Joint Struggle Headquarters announced plans to hold a vote among union members from May 9th to 18th. This vote aims to secure the right to strike by mid-May.

If the vote passes with majority support from all union members, the union intends to organize a full-membership rally in April, followed by a general strike in May.

The Joint Struggle Headquarters emphasized its strategy to gradually increase the number of participants in the labor dispute and intensify pressure on management in preparation for the May general strike.

Previously, the Joint Struggle Headquarters formed a collective bargaining team in December of last year. This team included representatives from the cross-company Samsung Electronics branch, the nationwide Samsung Electronics union, and Samsung Electronics Union Together. They engaged in wage negotiations with management for approximately three months.

However, the union and management failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including the calculation method for excess-profit performance bonuses (OPI) and the elimination of performance-pay caps. Consequently, on the 19th of the previous month, the union declared an impasse in wage negotiations and sought mediation from the Central Labor Relations Commission.

The commission, after holding its second mediation meeting on May 3rd, ultimately decided to terminate the mediation process.

In response, the union has transformed its joint bargaining team into the Joint Struggle Headquarters and is now moving forward with efforts to secure the right to strike.