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🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Samsung Electronics union vote high, but internal conflict flares over bonus dispute

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A tentative agreement on wage negotiations at Samsung Electronics has seen a high voter turnout exceeding 80% among union members.
  • However, significant internal conflict, termed 'labor-labor conflict,' is escalating, with union members from the home appliance and mobile divisions considering legal action to halt the vote.
  • The core of the dispute lies in the perceived disparity in performance-based bonuses, particularly affecting workers in the System LSI, Foundry, and DX divisions compared to the semiconductor division.

A tentative agreement on wage negotiations at Samsung Electronics has garnered a strong response, with over 80% of union members participating in the vote. The agreement, which includes details on performance-based bonuses, was reached with the mediation of the Minister of Employment and Labor, Kim Young-joo. The high turnout suggests significant engagement from the workforce regarding their compensation.

The negotiation representative union (the Federation of Samsung Labor Unions) holds the negotiation rights, and can exercise them jointly. However, (the other union) left in the middle. Considering these aspects, it can be seen that they do not need to be included in the vote.

· Ministry of Employment and Labor OfficialExplaining the Ministry's stance on the voting rights of different union factions.

Despite the high participation, the situation is marked by escalating internal conflict among union members, often referred to as 'labor-labor conflict.' A segment of union members, primarily from the home appliance and mobile divisions (DX), are strongly opposing the tentative agreement. They are reportedly considering legal measures, such as applying for an injunction to halt the voting process, highlighting a deep division within the union's ranks.

About 30% of the union members with voting rights have voted.

· Baek Soon-anPolicy Planning Officer of the 'Donghaeng Union,' representing DX division members, on their participation in the vote.

The crux of the disagreement centers on the distribution of performance-based bonuses. Workers in the System LSI, Foundry, and DX divisions, who reportedly receive lower bonuses, are expressing discontent. They contrast their situation with employees in the Device Solutions (DS) division, which includes the lucrative semiconductor business, where bonuses are perceived to be significantly higher. This disparity appears to be fueling the opposition and the calls for the agreement's rejection.

The bylaws of the Federation of Samsung Labor Unions require a general meeting for deciding the provisional agreement's approval or disapproval to be announced 24 hours in advance. The Federation of Samsung Labor Unions has a 7-day prior announcement regulation.

· Lee Ho-seokSuwon Branch Manager of the Federation of Samsung Labor Unions, raising concerns about the voting announcement period.

Further complicating matters are procedural disputes regarding the voting process itself. Some union factions claim that the preliminary notice period for the vote did not comply with union bylaws. These groups are exploring legal avenues, including the injunction request, to challenge the validity of the vote and the agreement. The management of the Ministry of Employment and Labor has indicated that the negotiation representative union holds the primary negotiation rights, potentially impacting the standing of dissenting factions.

This is a matter that has undergone legal review, so there is no problem.

· Choi Seung-hoCo-Chairperson of the Samsung Electronics Union's Joint Struggle Committee, responding to procedural concerns.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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