'NewJeans-nim' Appears at Samsung Electronics Union Rally for 'Wage Negotiations and Performance Bonus Payments'

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A rally organized by the Samsung Electronics labor union demanding 'wage negotiations and performance bonus payments' featured performances by comedian Yoon Sung-ho, known as 'NewJeans-nim', singer Ailee, and the YB band.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As wage negotiations between Samsung Electronics management and labor resumed, the largest Samsung Electronics union, the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union (JeonSamNo), held a cultural event-style rally on the 24th.

The rally took place in front of the Samsung Electronics headquarters in Seocho-gu, Seoul, with around 2,000 attendees (union estimate), including 200 members of the Korean Metal Workers' Union affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The union demanded wage negotiations directly with the union rather than through the labor-management council, performance bonus payments based on operating profit, and substantial improvements to vacation policies from management.

Son Woo-mok, chairman of JeonSamNo, stated, "Even if the Device Solutions (DS) division achieves an operating profit of 11 trillion won this year, management is saying that the performance bonus will be 0% based on EVA (Economic Value Added). If rewards are given based on operating profit, it will be a great motivation for employees."

The rally also featured performances by comedian Yoon Sung-ho, performing as 'NewJeans-nim', singer Ailee, and YB (Yoon Do-hyun Band).

Regarding the union's collective action, some voices have expressed concern that internal cohesion to overcome crises may be weakening amid rising tensions within Samsung Electronics, such as the recent sudden replacement of the head of the semiconductor business.

Samsung Electronics management and JeonSamNo have been negotiating since January but failed to narrow their differences, leading to a breakdown in talks in March. After the failure of mediation by the Central Labor Relations Commission, JeonSamNo secured the legal right to strike through a union member vote.

However, Samsung Electronics management and the union resumed practical wage negotiations on the 21st. The next practical negotiation session is scheduled for the 28th.

The union announced that if no clear progress is made in the upcoming main negotiations, they will hold a press conference in front of the Seocho headquarters on the 29th.

Previously, on the 17th of last month, JeonSamNo held a cultural event-style collective action at the Samsung Electronics Gyeonggi Hwaseong Plant's Component Research Building (DSR).