On the 23rd, when the Samsung Electronics labor union holds a large-scale rally, about 30,000 people will gather at the Pyeongtaek campus. At the same time, Samsung Electronics shareholders have announced a counterrally across the street, heightening tensions amid concerns of possible physical clashes.
According to the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency and the Samsung Electronics Labor Union Joint Struggle Headquarters (the union), the union will hold the "4/23 struggle resolution rally" at 1 p.m. near the office complex building at the Pyeongtaek campus. The union reported 30,000 attendees to police, but expects about 37,000 to gather.
The Korea Shareholder Activism Headquarters (the shareholder side), which opposes the union rally, will also hold a counterrally on the same day starting at 10 a.m. on Godeok International Boulevard in Pyeongtaek. The location is directly across from the union rally site. The shareholder side reported 20 participants.
The shareholder side said, "Five million Samsung Electronics shareholders have risen up against Samsung Electronics employees' reckless demands for a 40 trillion won performance bonus and the shutdown of the world's best semiconductor plant." It added, "We can no longer leave Samsung solely to management or solely to workers," and argued, "Shareholders will now act in unison to protect and defend Samsung."
Some voice concerns about potential minor and major physical clashes as the two rallies of opposing nature take place simultaneously. Police plan to deploy about 400 officers to prepare for contingencies.
Samsung Electronics labor and management are currently at odds over the performance bonus payout rate. The union is demanding payment of 15% of operating profit as a performance bonus, arguing for stronger linkage between performance and compensation. Management is proposing top-tier industry compensation while maintaining the existing performance bonus system, citing the need to consider the business environment and earnings volatility. Labor-management talks have been at a standstill since the union declared a suspension of negotiations at the end of last month.