Samsung Electronics Non-Semiconductor Unions Declare 'Withdrawal' from Joint Struggle... Movement to Withdraw Spreads

Newsis [Financial News] The Samsung Electronics Donghaeng Union, which consists mostly of non-semiconductor members, has declared its withdrawal from the Joint Struggle Headquarters formed by Samsung Electronics' three major unions for this year's wage negotiations. This is interpreted as reflecting the dissatisfaction of non-semiconductor union members who feel that the Joint Struggle Headquarters is focusing solely on the struggle for high performance bonuses for semiconductor sector members, centered around the majority supra-enterprise union. Even within the supra-enterprise union leading the strike, a movement to withdraw among members in non-semiconductor sectors is spreading.
On the 4th, the Samsung Electronics Union Donghaeng sent an official letter titled "Regarding the Termination of the 2026 Wage Negotiation Joint Negotiation Team" to the "Samsung Electronics Branch of the Supra-enterprise Union" and the "National Samsung Electronics Labor Union," stating that they would "withdraw from joint negotiations and joint struggles as of today. " The Donghaeng union has approximately 2,300 members, of whom about 70% belong to the Device Experience (DX) division, which is responsible for mobile phones, home appliances, and TVs.
On November 5 of last year, three unions—the supra-enterprise union, the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union, and the Donghaeng union—signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on the Formation and Operation of the Wage Negotiation Joint Negotiation Team" and formed a joint negotiation team as a single bargaining channel against management. Since the breakdown of negotiations with management last March, they transitioned into a Joint Struggle Headquarters and have been waging a full-scale struggle for performance bonuses. However, while they demanded that 15% of operating profit be paid as performance bonuses without an upper limit only for the semiconductor sector, they failed to present any specific demands for non-semiconductor sectors such as home appliances and mobile phones, leading to an accumulation of relative deprivation and dissatisfaction among union members in the non-semiconductor sectors.
Yonhap News Regarding the reason for withdrawing the joint response, the Donghaeng Union claimed, "(The Joint Struggle Headquarters) did not respond at all to proposals and requests made for the rights and interests of all union members, not just those in specific fields. " At the same time, it was pointed out, "Continuous attacks and disparagement against the Donghaeng Union have persisted from the past until now, and malicious expressions such as 'company union' are not being used without hesitation.
" It is reported that the Donghaeng Union is concerned that the Joint Struggle Headquarters' demand for high performance bonuses of approximately 600 million won per person and its announcement of a strike could be perceived by society as collective selfishness. Previously, on the 30th of last month, President Lee Jae-myung pointed out, "If some organized workers make excessive or unfair demands solely for their own survival and are condemned by our citizens, it causes harm not only to the union in question but also to other workers.
" Movements to withdraw from the union among members in the non-semiconductor sector also appear to be spreading. On the bulletin board of the Samsung Electronics branch of the supra-enterprise union, which is leading the performance bonus struggle in the semiconductor sector, the number of posts applying to withdraw from the union increased to 500 in a single day on the 28th of last month, and exceeded 1,000 on the 29th. Coupled with the decision to raise union dues, dissatisfaction among non-semiconductor union members has led to applications for withdrawal. This trend is spreading, accompanied by a relay of withdrawal verifications on internal bulletin boards and workplace communities. The members who have withdrawn are expressing dissatisfaction, claiming that the supra-enterprise union prioritizes only the interests of members in the Device Solutions (DS) division, which is responsible for the semiconductor business, while turning a deaf ear to the demands of members in other divisions.
The supra-enterprise union, which holds the majority of membership at Samsung Electronics, is leading this strike, centered on employees in the DS division, who account for approximately 80% of the union's membership.
ehcho@fnnews.com Jo Eun-hyo Reporter