Samsung Electronics' largest union, the Samsung Group Superenterprise Labor Union Samsung Electronics Chapter (hereafter the superenterprise union), is internally reviewing the possibility of separating the bargaining structure for the DS (semiconductors) and DX (device experience) institutional sectors. Although the tentative agreement on the 2026 wage negotiations was finally approved, backlash from the DX institutional sector and lingering union-versus-union conflict that surfaced during the talks have grown into a sense within the union that the current integrated bargaining structure is problematic.
According to the industry on the 27th, the Samsung Electronics union confirmed approval in a vote that ended at 10 a.m. the same day on the tentative agreement for the 2026 wage negotiations. As a result, labor and management have wrapped up this year's wage negotiations.
However, internal conflict does not appear to be fully resolved even after the deal. Choi Seung-ho, Chairperson of the superenterprise union, responded to reporters' questions about plans after the approval, saying, "We plan to focus on improvements to LSI and foundry going forward, and we are considering separating DS and DX bargaining."
This is seen as tied to internal discontent within the DX institutional sector that union demands and compensation discussions during the wage talks flowed around the DS institutional sector. In fact, over the past month, the superenterprise union has reportedly seen a withdrawal movement numbering in the thousands, centered on the DX institutional sector.
In particular, the "Companion Union," one of the three major unions at Samsung Electronics composed mainly of DX institutional sector employees, publicly pushed back by filing for an injunction with the court to halt the voting process for the tentative agreement. The Companion Union argued that the wage and performance bonus negotiations effectively centered on DS and did not sufficiently reflect the views of DX members.
However, the plan to separate DS and DX bargaining will not be applied immediately to this agreement. Asked whether the current labor-management agreement would be limited to DS and DX would be negotiated separately, Choi said, "We intend to set an internal direction for next year," suggesting it could be applied from the next round of bargaining.
In the industry, there is a view that after the conclusion of this year's wage and collective agreement, the union's focus is likely to shift from simple wage hikes to adjusting interests by business unit and restructuring the bargaining framework. Because the DS institutional sector, which handles semiconductors, and the DX institutional sector, which oversees mobile and home appliances, differ greatly in earnings structure, performance bonus systems, and organizational culture, there is speculation that discussions on separate bargaining structures reflecting each business unit's interests could gain momentum.