Samsung Electronics’ first strike in 53 years in Ghana

The Samsung Electronics union held its first temporary meeting of delegates and discussed collective action. When the management insisted on the impossible position on the level of wage increase desired by the union, the union declared a ‘disruption of dialogue’ and entered the process to secure the right to legal dispute. If the union actually goes on strike, it will be the first strike since Samsung Electronics was founded in 1969.

On the 3rd, the union of Samsung Electronics held a meeting of temporary delegates and discussed future plans along with the election of new executives.

An official from the Samsung Electronics Labor Union Joint Bargaining Group said on the same day, “We plan to file an application for mediation with the Central Labor Relations Commission as early as tomorrow (the 4th).” If the disagreement between labor and management is not resolved even in mediation, and a decision is made to ‘stop mediation’, the union will have the right to strike legally.

Currently, there are regarding 4500 union members. This is 4% of the approximately 110,000 employees. If a strike is enforced amid the rapid spread of COVID-19, product production may be partially disrupted. There remains the possibility of a dramatic agreement. On the 26th of last month, the management changed its position that it was difficult to receive additional compensation, and decided to pay special incentives up to 300% of the basic salary to the employees of the semiconductor business. In addition, the company came up with a welfare plan, such as expanding parental leave, to persuade employees.

[오찬종 기자]
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