Samsung's Chip Workers On Verge Of All-Out Strike

In December 2013, the Korean Metal Workers' Union (KMWU), supported by the IndustriALL Global Union , revealed widespread violations of workers' rights within Samsung. These violations included reports of kidnapping and physical violence against union leaders, alongside targeted training programs for management aimed at preventing union formation.

Samsung's global reputation in the IT sector is also marred by its challenging working conditions, characterized by long hours and a reliance on precarious employment arrangements. The company actively dissuades workers from joining unions and pressures unionized precarious employees to disengage from their representative organizations.

These tactics involve paying lower wages to union members and subjecting them to intensive monitoring, which raises significant ethical concerns about Samsung's treatment of its workforce in the technology industry.

Samsung Electronics Co , Ltd operates with a hierarchical workforce structure that reveals significant disparities. At the top are highly paid professionals and research and development personnel critical for innovation and product development.

In the middle tier are skilled tradespeople and manufacturing workers across Samsung's global factories, including those in South Korea, essential for production but often facing challenging conditions.

At the lower end of Samsung's labor hierarchy are workers employed by contractors and subcontractors, a group for whom Samsung denies responsibility despite their crucial role in the company's operations.

The intense work culture at Samsung became evident during the 2012 Samsung-Apple patent trial, which exposed rigorous work conditions among research and development staff. Chief designer Wang Jee-yuen's testimony vividly depicted the demanding nature of the job, including prolonged work hours that impacted personal well-being and family life.

Women constitute a significant portion of Samsung's skilled workforce, often recruited from smaller towns to work in semiconductor labs. They endure extended shifts, rotating schedules and exposure to hazardous substances.

Samsung is not alone in exploiting its workers. A study shows that iPhone workers today are exploited 25 times more than textile workers in 19th-century England. The exploitation rate for iPhone workers is incredibly high at 2,458%.

This means that workers spend most of their day producing goods that make the company richer, with only a tiny part of their workday going towards their wages.

Amazon, a major employer in the US, is notorious for its challenging working conditions. Employees in Amazon warehouses face physical strain, workplace injuries and mental health issues as part of their daily job risks.

The company utilizes advanced surveillance systems to closely monitor employee activities. While Amazon asserts these measures enhance safety, workers often feel pressured to maintain an excessively fast pace to meet productivity standards.

Additionally, Amazon has actively opposed unionization efforts among its workforce. In 2021, the company spent $4.2 million on consultants to discourage workers from joining unions.

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However, on April 1, 2022, workers achieved a significant breakthrough with the establishment of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), marking the first union at an Amazon facility in the US. This accomplishment came after a year-long struggle against Amazon's aggressive tactics against unions and garnered support from dedicated workers and organizers at the Staten Island warehouse.

In 2011, workers at the Maruti-Suzuki Manesar IMT plant in India applied to register a new union, the Maruti Suzuki Employees Union (MSEU), in Chandigarh. Upon discovering this initiative, management allegedly pressured workers to sign documents pledging not to join the MSEU.

In response, 3,000 workers launched a sit-in strike on June 4, 2011, at the Manesar Plant, demanding recognition of the MSEU. To further pressure the workers, management fired 11 employees, including MSEU office bearers, on June 6 of that year, accusing them of inciting the strike.

Over time, Maruti Suzuki has shifted its workforce strategy by increasing the number of contract workers under precarious conditions while maintaining a smaller core of permanent employees.

These labor movements show the ongoing global battle of workers against exploitation by powerful corporations. They underscore the challenges and unfair treatment faced by the workers and emphasize the necessity for systemic reform to ensure fair treatment and the equitable distribution of the benefits of their labor.

Pranjal Pandey, a journalist and editor located in Delhi, has edited seven books covering a range of issues available at LeftWord . You can explore his journalistic contributions on NewsClick .

This article was produced by Globetrotter and is reproduced with permission.

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