A severe internal conflict has erupted at Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) as the union leadership is openly prioritizing the interests of the semiconductor (DS) division in bonus negotiations, prompting fierce backlash from rank-and-file members in other divisions.
The leadership has publicly raised the prospect of a union split, while members from the mobile and consumer electronics (DX) division have filed an injunction to halt the negotiations, deepening the wounds within the organization.
On the 20th, Son Yong-ho, a DX division member who formed the "Samsung Electronics Employee Rights Recovery Legal Response Coalition," held a press conference in front of the Suwon District Court to criticize Choi Seung-ho, head of the Samsung Electronics chapter of the Supra-Enterprise Union, who is leading negotiations as the union's bargaining representative.
"I am here to stop the arbitrary behavior of the Supra-Enterprise Union leadership, which is undermining democracy within the union and running the organization through intimidation and fear," Son said. "We have filed an injunction with the court to halt collective bargaining and strikes against the Supra-Enterprise Union."
DX division members, including Son, are expressing strong resentment toward the union leadership directing the negotiations. The Supra-Enterprise Union, which leads the joint struggle headquarters, has approximately 71,000 members. More than 10,000 of them are DX division members, but Choi, who belongs to the DS division, is focusing solely on bonus distribution within the semiconductor business in the negotiations.
As a result, the internal conflict is spreading rapidly. DX members have flooded the company's internal bulletin boards with criticism, posting comments such as "Even though it's running a deficit, take care of 'Le Pang' (System LSI and Foundry business divisions), and forget about DX," and "The logic itself (of the union leadership) makes no sense." As resistance grew, Choi drew further criticism on the 19th when he posted, "Once (the negotiations) wrap up, let's consider splitting the union."
DX members argue that the union leadership, which only looks after the DS division, has lost its representativeness. With the internal conflict now compounded by legal disputes, observers say trust in the current leadership will collapse once the bonus negotiations conclude.
"Within the semiconductor business division as well, the internal conflict is at a serious level, with communication between employees breaking down depending on whether they are union members," a union official said. "The Supra-Enterprise Union executive leadership is showing an attitude that it doesn't matter if DX members withdraw, as long as the DS division stays united, which is further intensifying the conflict."
