Samsung Enterprise Labor Union: "We Respect Court’s Injunction Decision... General Strike to Proceed on the 21st as Planned"

Union Issues Statement on Court Decision
Evaluates Ruling as "Guaranteeing Substantial Right to Industrial Action"

While the court partially granted Samsung Electronics' injunction request to prohibit illegal industrial action by the labor union, the union announced on the 18th that it would "respect the court’s decision and proceed with the general strike as planned on the 21st."

Cho Seungho, Chairman of the Samsung Group Supranational Labor Union Samsung Electronics Branch, is attending the 2nd post-adjustment meeting held at the Central Labor Relations Commission in the Government Sejong Complex on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News

Majung Law Firm, the legal representative for the Samsung Group Supranational Labor Union Samsung Electronics Branch (the Supranational Labor Union), stated in a press release that the Suwon District Court’s decision significantly narrowed the scope of strike restrictions demanded by management, thereby guaranteeing the union’s ability to conduct substantial industrial action.

The legal representative said, "Both the debtor (the union) and the court recognized the necessity of safety protection facilities and security operations, and only disputed the specific scope and staffing levels." The representative emphasized that while the court accepted management’s claims regarding the 'scope' of duties, it sided with the union regarding the specific 'number of personnel' required.

Originally, management insisted that approximately 7,000 personnel from the Device Solutions (DS) division be required on weekdays. However, the court accepted the union’s argument, determining that safety protection facilities and security operations could be sufficiently maintained with staffing levels equivalent to those on weekends or holidays. The legal representative explained, "As a result of this decision, fewer than 7,000 personnel will be required to work," adding, "This means there will be virtually no hindrance to industrial action."

The union also made it clear that many of the restrictions proposed by management were dismissed by the court. Management had requested a ban on union activities such as sending text messages to members and posting videos or banners encouraging participation in the strike, labeling these actions as 'intimidation.' However, the court rejected all of these requests.

The legal representative urged, "Management must compile and notify the union of the specific number of personnel required for each department so that the union can direct its members accordingly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.