Variables Such as Long-Term Strikes, Non-Union Member Support, and Weekday Protests Must Be Watched
Samsung Electronics' largest labor union, the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (Jeonsamno), will hold its first strike since its founding on the 7th. This marks the first annual leave protest since the strike declaration. The day also marks the 31st anniversary of the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee's 'New Management Declaration.'
On the morning of the 29th of last month, a press conference declaring a strike by the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union was held in front of the Samsung Electronics Seocho Building in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Photo by Yonhap News]
Jeonsamno instructed all union members nationwide to participate in the protest by using one day of annual leave. The number of Jeonsamno members is about 28,000, approximately 22% of Samsung Electronics' total workforce of about 125,000 employees.
Jeonsamno did not disclose the number of participants in the protest. According to Samsung Electronics, the vacation rate was higher than during the sandwich holiday last June. Samsung Electronics also did not disclose the vacation rate.
Some employees reportedly refrained from using annual leave to avoid being misunderstood as participating in the strike. The fact that more employees came to work than last year despite Jeonsamno's declaration of an annual leave protest is interpreted by the industry as evidence that the strike has minimal impact on production.
Taiwan market research firm TrendForce also predicted that the Jeonsamno strike would not affect the production of memory semiconductors such as DRAM and NAND flash, nor cause a shortage in shipments.
Both the management and the industry are paying attention to the possibility of a prolonged strike. Interest lies in how much support non-union members will show and whether Jeonsamno will introduce higher-level weekday protests beyond the annual leave protest.
Jeonsamno stated that it plans other forms of strikes after the annual leave protest. The possibility of a general strike cannot be ruled out. Wage and collective bargaining agreements (wage and labor agreements) are also stalled. Since negotiations in January, progress has been at a standstill. After the breakdown of talks on the 28th of last month, management and Jeonsamno have yet to schedule a new negotiation.
Signs of conflict between unions are also emerging. After Jeonsamno's strike declaration, the Samsung Group's cross-company union, which encompasses labor unions of five Samsung affiliates, posted claims about Jeonsamno's past misconduct.
A Samsung Electronics official said, "Unless the activity level increases, such as declaring weekday strikes involving not only union members but also non-union members in the future, the annual leave protest on this day is not expected to have a significant impact on production."
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