Samsung unions clash over who can negotiate next year’s pay
Samsung Electronics’ unions are divided over representation in wage talks for 2027. The largest union wants written demands from its rivals while resisting a joint negotiating team. Its rivals want direct participation, including a voice for consumer-electronics employees alongside semiconductor workers. A formal bargaining representative has not yet been selected.
Economics & Markets··Evening
Representation remains unsettled
Samsung Electronics’ unions in South Korea are disputing who should lead wage and collective bargaining talks for 2027. The company’s largest union, the Samsung Electronics chapter of the Samsung Group Super-Enterprise Labor Union, has started preparing demands. Donghaeng and the National Samsung Electronics Union object to its collecting proposals before the formal bargaining representative has been selected. The dispute concerns participation in negotiations as well as the demands themselves.[1], [2]
The largest union asked its rivals for written proposals on 15 October. It says gathering their views would meet its duty of fair representation. Its rivals argue that assuming representative status before the selection process is inappropriate. The National Samsung Electronics Union says it will submit its demands once the representative is officially determined.[1], [2]
Membership and the bargaining channel
Multiple unions at the same South Korean workplace must establish a unified bargaining channel before negotiations with management. If they cannot agree on a representative, a union holding a majority of eligible members can obtain that role after verification by the labor commission. The largest union has about 53,000 members, Donghaeng about 31,000 and the National Samsung Electronics Union about 24,000. AsiaToday reports that the largest union remains slightly short of a majority and that recruitment continues.[1], [2]
The largest union has opposed a joint negotiating team since August. It intends to let only its own members vote on any tentative agreement. The other unions want direct participation in bargaining rather than limiting their role to handing over demands.[2]
Semiconductor and consumer-electronics interests
The divisions reflect different employee interests within Samsung. Device Solutions runs the semiconductor business, while Device eXperience covers phones, televisions and home appliances. The largest union previously voted to concentrate on semiconductor workers and pursue separate pay talks for that division. Donghaeng mainly represents consumer-electronics employees and argues that their interests were overlooked in the wage agreement reached in May. It wants a framework that lets them participate alongside semiconductor workers.[1]
Choi Jun-seon, an emeritus law professor at Sungkyunkwan University, urged the unions to reconcile their interests, establish a unified bargaining channel and find agreement on common goals.[2]
