On Wednesday, a union representing tens of thousands of workers at Samsung Electronics in South Korea announced that it would extend a three-day strike indefinitely, aiming to compel management into negotiations.

"(We) declare a second indefinite general strike from July 10, after learning that the management has no willingness to talk," the National Samsung Electronics Union said in a statement.

Over 5,000 members stopped work on Monday as part of a planned three-day strike, continuing a protracted dispute over pay and benefits.

This action comes after a one-day walkout in June, marking the first collective action at the company, which had operated without unionisation for decades.

The union has more than 30,000 members more than a fifth of the company's total workforce.

The National Samsung Electronics Union, representing nearly a quarter of Samsung Electronics' workforce in South Korea, stated that its actions had disrupted production. However, Samsung has refuted this assertion.

"Samsung Electronics will ensure no disruptions occur in the production lines. The company remains committed to engaging in good faith negotiations with the union," the firm told BBC News.

However, the union said, "The company has no intention to engage in a dialogue even after the first general strike, thus we declare a second general strike starting from July 10th, lasting indefinitely."

"We have confirmed the clear disruption in production, and the management will regret this choice," the union said in the statement announcing the indefinite strike.

"The longer the strike lasts, the more the management will suffer, and eventually, they will kneel and come to the negotiation table. We are confident of victory."

The union blamed Samsung management for "obstructing" the strike, saying they did not appear willing to engage in dialogue.

It urged more workers to participate, including "those who are still hesitant".

"Your determination is needed to advance our goals and victory. Let us unite our strength to protect our rights and create a better future."

Since January, the union has been engaged in negotiations with management, but both sides have struggled to bridge their differences. Workers have turned down a proposed 5.1 percent pay increase, with the union also advocating for enhancements to annual leave and more transparent performance-based bonuses.

Samsung Electronics successfully avoided unionisation among its employees for nearly 50 years, employing what critics often describe as aggressive tactics. Despite this, the company ascended to become the world's largest manufacturer of smartphones and semiconductors.

Company founder Lee Byung-chul, who died in 1987, was adamantly opposed to unions, saying he would never allow them "until I have dirt over my eyes".

The first labour union at Samsung Electronics was formed in the late 2010s.

The firm serves as the flagship subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate Samsung Group, which stands as the largest among the family-controlled conglomerates that dominate business in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Samsung Electronics holds the position of the world's largest memory chip maker and plays a substantial role in the global production of high-end chips.

Recently, Samsung projected a more than 15-fold increase in its second-quarter operating profits year-over-year, driven by rising demand for generative AI technologies.

Image source: BBC