Samsung Display Union, First Dispute Since Establishment Today... "Plan to Expand General Strike" (Comprehensive)

On the afternoon of the 21st, Jeon Sang-min, Senior Vice Chairman of the Samsung Display Labor Union, is stating the union's position regarding the strike in front of Samsung Display Asan Campus 2 in Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Samsung Display labor union launched its first strike since the company's founding on the 21st. This is the first strike within the Samsung Group since Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong of Samsung Electronics declared the end of the no-union management policy in May last year. The union stated that the strike will initially take the form of a preemptive strike led by executives, gradually intensifying with plans to carry out a full strike.

According to the Samsung Display union, the union held a send-off ceremony for the dispute countermeasures committee at the Samsung Display Asan 2 Campus on the morning of the same day and began a limited preemptive strike involving six union executives, including Jeon Sang-min, the head of the dispute countermeasures committee. The union plans to continue the dispute actions until the currently stalled wage negotiations are concluded, without setting a specific duration for the strike.

From early morning on the same day, the Samsung Display union also started a tent sit-in in front of the cafeteria at Asan 2 Campus. The six union executives participating in the strike will use this tent as a base for 24-hour continuous struggle and sit-in, communicating with employees and conducting publicity activities. The union stated, "The union plans to expand to a full strike by all members, and without a progressive change in the company's attitude, the execution of a full strike is imminent."

In response to the company's first strike since its founding, the company expressed, "We are keeping the channels for dialogue open and are willing to resume talks and negotiations at any time if the union responds."

This strike arose due to the breakdown of wage negotiations. The Samsung Display union has been negotiating wages since early this year, demanding a basic increase rate of 6.8%. On the other hand, the company expressed reluctance, stating that under the emergency management situation caused by COVID-19, it is impossible to exceed the agreed standard increase rate of 4.5% set by the existing labor-management council.

Accordingly, the union declared the breakdown of wage negotiations after collective bargaining at the end of April, secured the right to strike through a vote on dispute actions by union members and a ruling of mediation suspension by the Central Labor Relations Commission of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Subsequently, on the 25th of last month, Samsung Display President Choi Ju-seon and union co-chairs Kim Jeong-ran and Lee Chang-wan sat at the negotiation table again but failed to narrow their differences.

This strike is the first since Vice Chairman Lee's declaration to end no-union management in May last year. Among all Samsung affiliates, the Samsung Electronics Service union previously conducted strikes in 2014 and 2019. The Samsung Display union was launched under the Federation of Korean Trade Unions in February last year and has about 2,400 members, exceeding 10% of the total employees.