In South Korea, Samsung employees are holding their first picket strike, a first in the company’s history. After a first discreet action a month earlier, the South Korean tech giant’s union is launching a three-day general strike. Unionists are calling for a pay increase and the payment of a bonus that was cancelled last year.
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With our correspondent in Seoul, Celio Fiorreti
Union chants ring out outside Samsung’s Hwaseong plant, the first time the South Korean tech giant has witnessed them. Gathered outside the building, a thousand of the 6,000 strikers who responded to the call are making their demands heard despite the July rain.
“ Although we made a profit of two billion euros, Samsung refuses to pay us our annual bonus, but keeps 300 million for management bonuses, Son Woo-mok, chairman of the union, criticizes. With just 1% of this amount, we can all get paid. Our demands are reasonable: better wages and the return of our bonus! »
A strike that could be renewed
For many, this is the first time they have gone on strike in their lives, like Cho Hapwon, 35, who works in maintenance: ” This is my first time participating. I hesitated for a long time to come, I was afraid of the consequences with my superiors and for the rest of my career. But I think it is important to be there and to be united, at least for three days. »
The employees hope to bring Samsung management to the negotiating table after these three days. Otherwise, the union does not rule out resorting to a renewable strike.
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