Labour unions of Samsung Electronics are threatening to strike for the first time in over 50 years.
Demands by four separate labour unions, representing more than 5,000 Samsung employees, for a pay rise and summer leave options have fallen on deaf ears, according to the Korea Herald.
“A walkout is one of our means to push through our calls,” Lee Hyun-kuk, a Samsung employee and trade union member, said during a press conference.
“We will start discussion this afternoon on the possible options to proceed wage negotiations, and a strike could take place if there is no other option left for us.”
Samsung employs more than 110,000 employees, so this represents a minor percentage of its total workforce.
Over a dozen rounds of talks between management and the unions have taken place since October, with no resolution.
The unions are asking for a A$11,600 pay rise for each employee, and for Samsung to begin paying overtime. Under the company’s current “comprehensive wage system”, overtime payments are baked into an employees basic salary.
