starting today and ending on July 10th.
Approximately 30,000 members, almost a quarter of the company's workforce in South Korea, demand better pay, an extra annual leave day, and an improved bonus system. According to CNN’s Yoonjung Seo, more than 6,000 people attended the protests in South Korea this morning, 4,500 being from production lines.
This is not the first time there have been protests in South Korea without any consequences happening. The union started the negotiations with the Samsung Electronics management, this year in January but there seems to be no ending in sight.
Even more so, the union rejected the 5.1% pay raise offered by the tech company. A manifestation took place last month too but the production was not affected. With neither party wanting to relinquish their demands, the South Korean protests could continue for longer than announced last week.
Samsung Electronics is one of the biggest technology and electronics manufacturers in the world. Even tho the manifestation last month did not affect the production of the chips, the worker's strike this week could impact it. The people who are expected to attend are maneuvering and monitoring the automated equipment which means that even given the automation, the production process could be damaged.
The Samsung Electronics workers’ strike is used as a last resort reporting that “We are now at a critical crossroads”, and “This strike is the last card we can use,”, showing the giant company that people are truly unhappy.
Samsung avoided with succes this kind of manifestation for nearly 50 years which shows just how fed up the workers are. This time, the union keeps a firm position and their goal in mind. The head of the National Samsung Electronics Union, Son Woo-Mok, encourages the workers saying “Recalling why we are here, please do not come to work until July 10th and do not receive any business calls.”.
Samsung Electronics didn’t comment on this workers' strike. Right now the protests are not affecting the usual activity but that can change fast depending on how many workers decide to attend and for how long.
People’s morale is high, one union member declaring to AFP “I’m really excited!... We’re making history.”. What is now left to discover is if the protests in South Korea will continue more than announced or if Samsung Electronics will give people what they want.
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