A labor union centered on employees in the Samsung Electronics DX (finished goods) unit has decided to stop its alliance with other in-house unions. Tensions between unions in the semiconductor and non-semiconductor sectors are increasingly intensifying.
According to the industry, the Samsung Electronics Workers' Companion (Companion Union) on the 4th sent an official letter to the Samsung Group supra-enterprise labor union's Samsung Electronics chapter (supra-enterprise union) and the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union, notifying them that it would withdraw from the joint struggle headquarters. The Companion Union, which has about 2,300 members, is composed of roughly 70% members from the DX institutional sector, which handles businesses such as home appliances, smartphones, and TVs.
In an official letter titled "On ending the 2026 wage talks joint bargaining group," the Companion Union said, "Even when we proposed and requested agenda items for the rights and interests of all members rather than those of a particular field, there has been no response to date," adding, "Our views for the rights and interests of all members are not being reflected at all." It continued, "From the past to now, there have been ongoing cases of sustained attacks and disparagement directed at us, and they have not hesitated to use excessively malicious expressions such as calling us a company-friendly union," and added, "We have repeatedly asked for cooperation and restraint for stable operation of the joint bargaining group, but mutual trust has been undermined, and we have concluded that achieving the cooperative bargaining relationship the joint bargaining group aims for, or the purpose of the memorandum of understanding, is impossible."
Samsung Electronics formed its first union in 2018. It now has a multiple-union system with five unions active. The Companion Union, along with the supra-enterprise union and the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union, formed a joint bargaining group in Nov. last year and has been negotiating with management on the 2026 wage and collective agreement. After talks broke down in Feb., they also formed a joint struggle headquarters and planned a "May general strike." The large rally held on the 23rd of last month was also carried out together.
The Companion Union plans to notify the company on the 6th of its intention to withdraw from the joint struggle headquarters and then request individual bargaining going forward. It also plans separate responses such as sending official letters to management or holding one-person protests.
With criticism growing that the supra-enterprise union, which holds a majority at Samsung Electronics, is demanding performance bonuses focused on the semiconductor business, a movement to withdraw is spreading among DX institutional sector employees. The number of members in the supra-enterprise union, which had surpassed 76,000, has now plunged to the 74,000 range. More than 80% of the supra-enterprise union's members belong to the DS (semiconductor) unit.
The Samsung Electronics joint struggle headquarters plans to press ahead with an 18-day general strike starting on the 21st. Companion Union members are expected to participate in the strike individually at their discretion.