‘Samsung with Labor Union’ in Full Swing... How Far Will the 'Eldest Brother' Samsung Electronics Collective Bargaining Go?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Attention is focused on the direction of collective bargaining at Samsung Electronics, the eldest sibling of Samsung, as Samsung Display's collective bargaining, conducted for the first time since Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong's official declaration to abandon 'no-union management,' concluded with an agreement.

According to the Samsung Electronics labor union on the 26th, the joint bargaining team of Samsung Electronics management and the union plans to hold the 4th round of negotiations on the 29th at Samsung Electronics' Giheung plant in Yongin City.

Previously, the joint bargaining team, composed of Samsung Electronics unions 1 through 4, and management held their first collective bargaining introductory meeting on the 3rd of last month at the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Yeouido-dong, Seoul. The labor and management sides held the first and second rounds of negotiations on the 17th of the same month and the 15th of this month, respectively.

At the first negotiation held at Samsung Electronics' Giheung plant in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, the union presented a collective agreement proposal containing about 150 items to management, including improvements to the employee performance evaluation system, better treatment of non-regular workers, and the establishment of a socially solidaristic wage system.

During the second negotiation held in mid-month, management responded to the union's demands, but the session ended after about 40 minutes without progress. It is known that management conveyed that about one-third of the items requested by the union would be difficult to accept. At that time, the union reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the response presented by management.

However, to maintain the dialogue, labor and management resumed negotiations on the 22nd. A union official stated, "Since this negotiation was hard-earned by both sides, the union and management have reached a consensus to steadily continue dialogue and reduce differences in positions."

Labor and management at Samsung Electronics plan to hold the 4th collective bargaining session again at the Giheung plant on the 29th to exchange opinions related to the collective bargaining demands and proceed with the coordination process.

Since Samsung Electronics labor and management share a consensus on the necessity of a collective agreement, the image of a 'unionized Samsung' is gradually taking shape.

Earlier, Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong stated in a public apology in May, "I will ensure that the phrase 'no-union management' is no longer heard at Samsung," and pledged, "We will strictly comply with labor relations laws and firmly guarantee the three labor rights."

Following Vice Chairman Lee's promise, Samsung Display and Samsung SDI's Ulsan plant also began collective bargaining. Subsequently, Samsung Display labor and management provisionally agreed on 151 items in the collective agreement after seven months of negotiations on the 22nd.