Internal Conflict Intensifies at Samsung Electronics: "We Sold Phones to Keep the Semiconductor Business Afloat, Yet They Say Union Control Is in the Hands of Too Many High School Graduates"

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[Financial News] Conflict among employees inside Samsung Electronics is intensifying over the union's strike. As complaints grow that the union is being driven mainly by the Samsung Electronics Device Solutions Division, resentment is also rising among employees in the Mobile eXperience (MX) Business, which handles the mobile phone business.
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A recent post on Blind, an anonymous workplace community for office workers, was titled, "The reason Samsung Electronics' strike is so damn ridiculous."
The author, identified as A, who is believed to be an employee in Samsung Electronics' MX Business, claimed, "For more than 10 years, we sold phones and made money, but we only got two or three special bonuses worth a few million won. The rest was poured into the Memory Business for research investment and even new production lines."
He added, "We made them go through the chicken game and eventually win, but now they want to throw a money party among themselves in the Memory Business, excluding the phone business."
A also argued, "This structure is possible because there are many high school graduates in the semiconductor line, so they control the union by sheer numbers," adding, "Most of the phone line is in Vietnam, so we are outnumbered in headcount."
He went on to criticize the union's internal structure, saying, "They call it the union for all Samsung Electronics employees, but in reality it is a half-baked union that only represents the semiconductor side."
A also wrote, "It is true that the company has treated employees like parts and handled them terribly until now," but added, "Still, I think this strike has to fail."
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Another Samsung Electronics employee also agreed with the post. He said, "When home appliances and mobile were in the red, they kept the Memory Business afloat. Now they are trying to monopolize the benefits of the AI boom." He added, "They invested in semiconductors with the money earned from fighting global rivals, and now they act as if they know nothing. It cannot be denied that semiconductor investment was sustained with the money earned by going head-to-head with global competitors such as Nokia Corporation and Sony Mobile."
There were also cynical reactions. Comments included, "The power abuse MX Business showed when it was doing well is well known," "Look back at the past," and "Even if mobile was strong before, it cannot be compared with the current semiconductor operating profit."
Criticism also emerged over the union's operating style. Some said, "A representative union that only takes care of a specific business division is a problem in itself. It is losing support even from its own employees, and internal conflict is already beginning," while others noted, "It is losing momentum because of internal division tactics."
gaa1003@fnnews.com Ahn Ga-eul Reporter