Samsung faces threat of first-ever strike

In the normally quiet research centre at Samsung Electronics’ head office in Hwaseong, loudspeakers blare as union activists exhort staff to join their campaign for higher wages at the storied Korean company.

The union wants a 6 per cent pay rise while Samsung is offering only 4 per cent — close to the inflation rate. Unless chair Lee Jae-yong comes to the table for negotiations, they will ballot their members on a strike — which would be the first ever at a company that only recognised unions in 2020.