(LEAD) Samsung Electronics, striking labor union resume talks

Samsung Electronics Co. and its largest labor union resumed talks Friday for the first time since the union went on a strike last week over a wage hike, a source close to the matter said. The management and the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) had a meeting in Suwon, south of Seoul, to discuss the details for further negotiations, including schedules, processes and representatives, according to the sources. This marks the first time management and labor have come together since the NSEU declared a general strike July 8, threatening to disrupt the company's production. The meeting was arranged after the company accepted the NSEU's dialogue offer on Thursday, suggesting an "unconditional resumption of talks." Samsung Electronics Co.'s office building in southern Seoul (Yonhap) The NSEU's demands for the general strike include a 5.6 percent basic pay raise for all members, a guaranteed day off on the union's founding day and compensation for economic losses due to the strike. Despite the strike l asting more than 10 days, Samsung Electronics said there has been minimal impact on production. The NSEU reports a total membership of 31,000, accounting for approximately 24 percent of Samsung Electronics' total workforce of about 125,000. Source: Yonhap News Agency