Samsung Electronics' largest labor union went on strike for the first time

The largest labor union at Samsung Electronics in South Korea has decided to strike for the first time in the company's history.

Yonhap news Agency reported that the national Samsung Electronics union held a press conference in front of the Samsung Electronics headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul on Wednesday (May 29), saying that management has neglected workers and decided to go on strike.

The labor union will hold a 24-hour sit-in in front of the Seocho headquarters building from now on, and will take collective action by using up annual leave instead of an immediate general strike.

The executive department of the union has ordered union members to take a one-day leave on June 7.

The move comes just a day after negotiations between labor and management broke down over this year's salary deal. Currently, the Samsung Electronics labor Union has 28,000 members nationwide, accounting for 22 percent of all Samsung Electronics employees. If the labor union launches a collective strike, Samsung Electronics is expected to be affected.

The labor and management of Samsung Electronics began wage negotiations in January this year, but failed to narrow their differences. After mediation by the Central Labor Commission and a vote of union members, the union obtained the legal right to strike.