Samsung Electronics Union Donghaeng (Donghaeng Union), which left the joint struggle headquarters, demanded that other unions share bargaining information and stop discrimination. Donghaeng Union also demanded an official apology, saying the super-enterprise labor union's Samsung Electronics branch (super-enterprise union), which holds a majority, ignored and belittled its views. About 70% of Donghaeng Union's roughly 2,300 members belong to the DX (finished goods) institutional sector, which handles businesses such as home appliances, smartphones and TVs.
On the 6th, Donghaeng Union said in an official letter sent to the super-enterprise labor union's Samsung Electronics branch (super-enterprise union) and the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (Jeonsamno), "We request that you comply with the duty of fair representation, including sharing bargaining information and prohibiting discriminatory treatment." Donghaeng Union said ending its participation in the joint bargaining team does not exempt the two unions, as bargaining representative unions, from the duty of fair representation, adding, "You have a legal duty and responsibility to share the bargaining process and the contents and results arising in that process."
On the 4th, Donghaeng Union conveyed its intent to withdraw from the joint struggle headquarters it had formed with the super-enterprise union and Jeonsamno. It cited as the reason that "there has been no response to date to proposals and requests made for the rights and interests of all members, not just those in a specific field."
In response, in this official letter, Donghaeng Union demanded: ▲ detailed progress on bargaining with management ▲ the full text of management's proposal and the unions' (super-enterprise union, Jeonsamno) amendment demands ▲ collection of Donghaeng Union's views ▲ the future bargaining schedule and key issues ▲ the super-enterprise union's official apology and an immediate end to belittlement.
In March, it was reported that Chairperson Choi Seung-ho of the super-enterprise union expelled some members who posted opinions in the members' messenger, asking, "Are you Donghaeng Union?" Donghaeng Union said, "In the past, the super-enterprise union abused its authority as the majority union to deliberately ignore or exclude our union's views, and even continued belittlement that falls under Article 311 (Insult) of the Criminal Act," adding, "This can only be interpreted as an attempt to exclude and deny the very existence of our union, going beyond a simple union-versus-union conflict." It continued, "If, after receiving this official letter, you refuse without reasonable grounds to share bargaining information or the situation, or if statements imposing disadvantages or belittlement toward our union members continue, we will file for corrective action with the labor commission and take all possible civil and criminal legal measures and a strong response."
In response, the super-enterprise union sent an official letter to Donghaeng Union the same day, saying, "There has been no intentional exclusion of Donghaeng Union or blocking of bargaining information," and, "We will ensure that bargaining results and key points can be provided in advance to Donghaeng Union before official sharing with members." However, it added, "Member opinion gathering was already conducted through last year's agenda collection procedure, so additional collection is difficult."
As criticism grows that the majority super-enterprise union is demanding performance bonuses centered on the semiconductor institutional sector, a wave of withdrawals is spreading among employees in the DX institutional sector. The number of members in the super-enterprise union, which had surpassed 76,000, has fallen to the 73,000 range.
Samsung Electronics formed its first union in 2018. It now operates a multiple-union system with five unions active. Among them, including Donghaeng Union, the super-enterprise union and Jeonsamno formed a joint bargaining team in Nov. last year and have been negotiating with management over the 2026 wage and collective agreement. After talks broke down in Feb., they also formed a joint struggle headquarters and planned a "general strike in May." They also held a large-scale rally together on the 23rd of last month.