Samsung union faces exodus of 4,000 members amid backlash over being left out of DX talks...representativeness put to the test

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[Financial News] Samsung Electronics' largest union is facing a mass exodus of members just four days before a general strike, raising questions over whether it can maintain its majority-union status. The departures are concentrated in the Device eXperience (DX) Division, including home appliances and mobile, signaling a widening rift within the union.
According to industry sources on the 17th, about 4,000 resignation requests have been filed over the past month with the Samsung Electronics Labor Union, the company's largest union. That is roughly half of the DX Division's membership, which stands at about 8,500 to 9,000.
The main cause appears to be frustration that wage negotiations have focused on the semiconductor, or Device Solutions Division, while the DX Division has been sidelined. Among members, suspicion is also spreading that the union is deliberately delaying resignation processing to preserve strike momentum.
The union says the delay is simply an administrative backlog. Chair Choi explained that the processing speed slowed because a large number of resignation requests came in over a short period.
The problem is that the scale of the exodus could affect not only internal tensions but also the union's legal standing. The Samsung Electronics Labor Union currently has about 71,750 members, not far above the roughly 64,000 needed to retain majority-union status. If all pending resignations are reflected, membership would fall to the 67,000 range. If more members leave, the union could lose its majority status.
If that happens, the union would lose leverage in talks with management, and its ability to represent workers would also take a hit. Analysts say its influence could also weaken in next year's process for selecting a single bargaining channel.
Internal conflict is also deepening. Some DX Division members are reportedly moving to file injunctions challenging the union's representativeness and demanding that wage agreements be signed and the strike be blocked. The dispute is no longer limited to resignations; it is now spreading into a rejection of the union's decision-making itself, pushing tensions even higher.
Concerns are also growing over an outflow of talent as labor-management talks drag on. About 200 employees are said to have moved to rival companies over the past few months. An industry source said, "Uncertainty over bonus negotiations is dragging on, and the loss of talent is accelerating."
Meanwhile, if the planned 18-day general strike starting on the 21st becomes a reality, it could disrupt semiconductor production lines and cause losses of up to 100 trillion won.
moving@fnnews.com Lee Dong-hyuk Reporter