Samsung Electronics Union Calls First-Ever Strike

The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) has called the first strike at Samsung Electronics since its founding over five decades ago, Peter Hoskins reported for BBC News.

Samsung Electronics has been in negotiations with the union since the beginning of the year over wages. I Photo: raymondclarkeimages Flickr

The union, which represents about 28,000 members, will hold a one-day protest on June 7 by asking all members to use their paid leave and has not ruled out a full-scale strike in the future.

A union representative stated, "We can’t stand persecution against labor unions anymore. We are declaring a strike in the face of the company’s neglect of laborers," during a live-streamed news conference.

Samsung Electronics has been in negotiations with the union since the beginning of the year over wages, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement. The union is demanding a 6.5% pay rise and a bonus tied to the company's earnings.