Samsung chairman calls for company unity amid looming strike

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong on Saturday called for unity within his company as its labor union plans to begin a major strike next week amid an impasse in wage negotiations. "Now is the time to wisely gather our strength and move in one direction," Lee said at Gimpo International Airport in western Seoul. "Union members, Samsung family members, we are one body, one family." He also apologized to the company's customers and to the public for causing concern over his company's "internal" matters. Lee's remarks come after the company's largest labor union said Friday it will proceed with the strike planned for next week despite the company's proposal to resume talks without preconditions. The 18-day strike is set to begin next Thursday, which could disrupt production at the world's largest memory chipmaker.

Original source: Korea Times