The unions had last week requested the company for a meeting with its top executives. They were open to having a dialogue with any of Samsung’s co-CEOs, or even Vice Chairman and heir to Samsung Group Lee Jae-yong. If not agreed to, the workers threatened to go on strike for which they have already won the legal right. Samsung has now expectedly agreed to hold a discussion with the unions. “We received an official reply from the management to our request for a dialogue with the company’s chief executives,” four Samsung workers’ unions said in a joint statement, The Korea Times reports. “We are delighted that the management has changed its stance.” It’s unclear though who will represent Samsung in this meeting, which could take place next month. It surely won’t be Lee Jae-yong though, industry officials suggest. Instead, it could be co-Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee or President Kyung Kye-hyun, who will reportedly take up a new role at the company as a co-CEO during its forthcoming general meeting of shareholders. The representatives for the workers could also have some new names. The Nationwide Samsung Electronics Union, which is the largest among the four Samsung workers’ unions, is reportedly in the process of electing new leaders through an online vote.
Samsung’s unionized workers have already rejected an offer from the company
Samsung is one of the biggest conglomerates globally. It makes billions of dollars every year. And like any other company, the company passes on the benefit to its workers too. But the workers aren’t happy with what they are getting. The Korean behemoth last year offered a 7.5-12 percent performance-based raise in pay but its unionized workers rejected the offer. According to reports, they are demanding a guaranteed ten million won (approx. $8,400) increase in each employee’s annual salary. Additionally, they want the performance-based bonuses paid out to workers to be equivalent to 25 percent of Samsung’s operating profit every year. The company is now ready to talk out a solution. However, while Samsung has agreed to talk, the company is reportedly still reluctant to accept the workers’ demand. Hopefully, it will be able to negotiate a deal. The company surely wouldn’t want its workers to go on strike, which would be a first in its 53-year history. The Korean firm already has a lot of internal issues to look into.
