They have been protesting for weeks and they have had enough. They decided to go on strike. The first in the history of the giant

Five decades after the company was founded, Samsung will host the first strike in the company’s history. And not just any one, because it is organized by the largest trade union in the company, which brings together 28,000. people, i.e. over 20 percent all employees. The National Samsung Electronics Union announced that union members will not work on July 7 as part of the protest. The reason is a wage dispute –

The first strike in history at Samsung. Employees are fed up

“We can no longer tolerate worker and trade union repression,” read the inscription on the banner that accompanied trade unionists at a press conference when they announced the strike. This will be the first action of its kind in Samsung’s history, although employees have been protesting on and off for weeks in front of the company’s headquarters in Seoul and in front of a microprocessor factory in Hwaseong, south of the capital –

Samsung announced increases of 5.1 percent this year. However, trade unionists demand that salaries be increased by 6.5%. and want to introduce a transparent system of bonuses depending on the company’s results. In addition, they demand an additional day of leave during the year. On Wednesday, they accused Samsung’s management of failing to present a compromise plan during the talks that took place the day before. The company issued a statement on Wednesday in which it assured “sincere engagement in talks with unions.”

Samsung problems. The strike may affect the entire world

Analysts cited anonymously by the BBC say the industrial action could impact production capacity and disrupt electronics supply chains, as Samsung produces, among others, smartphones, televisions and microprocessors. In some areas, the company has recently performed worse than it should. However, trade unionists do not believe that they should refrain from taking action for this reason. “The company says it has been in crisis for 10 years,” said union leader Son Woo-mok. He added that this is not an excuse not to meet the activists’ demands.

Samsung only allows trade union activities from 2020. This happened after the company came under intense scrutiny when the CEO was accused of bribery and market manipulation. After the unions announced the industrial action, Samsung’s shares on the Seoul Stock Exchange fell by 3.1%. It is not known whether other, smaller unions intend to join the strike.