Seoul, South Korea - July 8, 2024

Samsung Electronics workers in South Korea began a three-day strike on Monday, warning that there could be more industrial actions later this month if their demands for better pay and conditions are not met.

The National Samsung Electronics Union covers about 30,000 workers in South Korea, nearly a quarter of the conglomerate's domestic workforce. About 6,500 union members initiated the latest industrial action by protesting outside the company's semiconductor factory in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi province, south of the capital Seoul.

The workers are demanding improved pay and an additional day of annual leave. This strike marks the largest in Samsung's history following its first-ever walkout last month. Analysts suggest that automation and low levels of worker participation mean the strike will have minimal impact on production at the world's largest chipmaker. However, the union disputes this, stating that an unexpectedly high number of assembly line workers have joined the latest action.

Samsung has not commented on the latest strike thus far. The union has warned that it would stage another five-day walkout starting on July 15 if no breakthrough is achieved with Samsung management in the coming days.

Shotlist:
Seoul, South Korea - July 8, 2024:
1. Strike in progress;
2. Employees waving hands;
3. Employee delivering speech;
4. Various of employees chanting, singing in rain;
5. Strike in progress;
6. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Son Woo-mok, president, National Samsung Electronics (ending with shot 7):
"Currently, several semiconductor production lines have been halted, resulting in the scrapping of many chips. Many union members joined the strike today, directly affecting the operation of related facilities and potentially causing significant losses for Samsung.";
7. Various of strike in progress.

[Restriction - No access Chinese mainland]