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Workers with the National Samsung Electronics Union hold a rally outside the company’s DSR Tower in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on April 17, 2024. (Park Tae-woo/The Hankyoreh)

“Open the doors!”

“Stop busting unions!”

These were the chants made by hundreds of workers at Samsung Electronics, a company that has adhered to a no-union policy for decades. As the cries rang out among the high-rise buildings, the workers erupted in wonderstruck applause.

Close to 2,000 workers gathered at a rally by the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) after its decision to carry out its first strike in the history of the company, which was established in 1969.  Criticizing the company for its “refusal to communicate,” they demanded respect for workers and unions.

The NSEU rally took place at midday on Wednesday at Samsung Electronics’ DSR Tower in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province. The event was planned by the union based on a members’ vote and approval of a strike on April 8 following a breakdown in wage discussions and collective bargaining with the company.

NSEU Secretary-General Son Woo-mok explained, “Since arbitration by the National Labor Relations Commission was suspended, the company has not presented any items and declined to take part in dialogue, and when we have gone to them for dialogue, we have been refused.”

“That’s why we’re here now and why we intend to continue going forward,” he added.
 
“After seeing the barricades, I joined the union today”

The rally was originally supposed to take place in the building’s first-floor lobby. But after the company put up metal barricades to bar the entrance, it ended up being held in a vacant lot outside.

The company cited “safety” concerns as a reason for barricading the building, but workers were incensed over a decision they called an example of the company’s refusal to communicate.

One employee at DSR Tower said, “I was taken aback this morning when I saw the barricades and ended up having to use a side entrance to go to my job.”

“I was upset with the company’s response, and I decided today to join the union and take part in the demonstration,” they added, explaining that the company’s response was “driving employees to join the union.”

A Samsung Electronics official explained, “Due to concerns about safety, the company proposed alternative sites to the lobby, including the bus stop and main stadium within the Hwaseong work site.”

A person films the NSEU rally outside Samsung Electronics’ offices at DSR Tower in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, on April 17, 2024. (Park Tae-woo/The Hankyoreh)

The workers taking part in the demonstration voiced discontent over the company’s management failures and opaque wage calculation methods.

During the union event, one rally attendee in a mask said the company “has mistakenly attributed good sales in good market conditions to its own capabilities, while refusing to reflect on its failures.”

“We employees are fulfilling our responsibilities at this moment. Is the company fulfilling its responsibilities?” they asked, drawing applause from the other attendees.

Another worker who has been employed at the Hwaseong site for over nine years said, “I understand there was a deficit last year, but we’re in a situation where we might not receive bonuses even if there are operating profits this year.”

“Employees need to know what we can do to be rewarded, but under the current methods, we can’t. That’s why we’re angry,” they explained.
 
Next rally to take place at Seocho head office

Workers also expressed anger over the methods used in wage determination through the Labor Management Council.

Previously, the company decided on this year’s wage increase rate based on discussions with an employee representative of the council while conducting collective wage negotiations with the union.

One attendee who took one of their leave days to prepare for the event on Wednesday said, “If the council’s employee representative really represents the employees, they should listen to the employees’ voices rather than simply announcing the company’s decision.”

Another employee said, “Not only does it not seem like they’re representing the employees, it feels like they blindsided the union and the workers.”

The rally, which lasted a little over an hour, concluded with a pop performance. After their day of demonstrating and chanting, the workers attending the performance appeared proud of what they had accomplished.

While some of the union members had arrived in groups after lunch, others had traveled by bus from the company’s Pyeongtaek workplace, while others still took leave days or arrived after working the night shift.

One union member said, “It feels great to see so many colleagues who feel the same way that I do.”

Another said, “I hope the company really senses something after seeing today’s rally.”

The union said it plans to hold a record rally on April 24, this time at the Samsung Electronics head office in Seoul’s Seocho neighborhood.

Lee Hyun-kook, the union’s vice president, said, “The content and format of the event that day will be decided after we hear from the union members.”

“It’s up to the company whether it ends up being a higher-quality cultural event or a strike declaration,” he added.

By Park Tae-woo, staff reporter

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