Samsung Group's 8 Unions Propose "Joint Negotiations" Demanding 6.8% Wage Increase and Job Security

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Eight labor unions of Samsung Group, including Samsung Electronics, Samsung Life Insurance, and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, jointly demanded collective bargaining on the 8th. This is the first joint demand released by the unions within the group. They presented demands such as a 6.8% wage increase and guaranteeing retirement at age 60.

The Samsung Group Labor Union Solidarity under the Korean Metal Workers' Union Federation (Metal Workers' Federation), called Metal Samsung Solidarity, announced the '2021 Wage Increase and System Improvement Demands' at a press conference held in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) main conference room that afternoon, proposing joint (collective) bargaining with management. Metal Samsung Solidarity is an organization composed of eight Samsung Group unions under the KCTU, including the nationwide unions of Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Welstory, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Anica Loss Adjustment, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Samsung SDI Ulsan, Samsung Life Insurance, and Samsung S-1 employees.

The joint demands proposed by Metal Samsung Solidarity include △ a 6.8% wage increase for 2021 △ abolition of wage cuts for lower performance ratings and improvement of Management by Objectives (MBO) △ improvement of performance incentives (OPI) and target achievement incentives (TAI) systems △ normalization of ordinary wages △ guarantee of retirement at age 60 by the end of the year and abolition of wage peak system. Metal Samsung Solidarity also stated, "Labor unions affiliated with the Metal Workers' Federation Samsung Group Union Solidarity will submit individual demands in addition to the joint demands according to each company's circumstances." They did not disclose detailed information about the individual demands.

Kim Manjae, Chairman of the Metal Workers' Federation, said, "From today, the eight unions of Samsung Group companies unite under the flag of the Metal Workers' Federation regardless of industry or sector," adding, "We will fight to improve the working conditions and secure the right to unionize not only for our members but for all workers working for Samsung Group."

Lee Changwan, Chairman of the Samsung Display Union, demanded full disclosure of the Samsung Group's performance bonus calculation method, stating, "If the operation of performance bonuses is fair, it must be clearly disclosed." Choi Wonseok, Chairman of the Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Anica Loss Adjustment Union, demanded, "Samsung should first actively accept the paradigm shift in labor-management relations and the joint demands of Samsung Solidarity."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.