The workers' union at Samsung Electronics in South Korea has announced plans to initiate a general strike starting on July 8, in response to demands for improved pay and additional time off. The National Samsung Electronics Union, representing approximately 28,000 members, aims to secure commitments from the company, including enhancements to the performance-based bonus system and an extra day of annual leave. The union's president, Son Woo-mok, declared the general strike during a live YouTube broadcast, emphasizing their determination to continue the strike until their demands are met. Samsung Electronics has not yet provided a response to the union's announcement. Last month, the union conducted a one-day walkout using annual leave, which did not impact the company's production or business activities. However, Samsung Electronics is facing challenges in various areas, including its semiconductor unit, where it recently replaced its head to address industry-related "crisis" issues. The potential for a larger scale or prolonged industrial action poses a significant concern for Samsung as it strives to compete with rivals in the production of high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips used in AI applications. It's worth noting that the union's membership experienced rapid growth after Samsung's 2020 commitment to cease discouraging organized labor. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!