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The Samsung Group Trans-Company Labor Union's Samsung Electronics branch (Trans-Company Labor Union) has officially established the first majority union in Samsung Electronics’ history.

On the 17th, members of the Samsung Group Trans-Company Labor Union held a press conference declaring the official establishment of a majority union in front of Samsung Electronics Seocho Building in Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

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On the 17th, the Trans-Company Labor Union held a press conference in front of the Samsung Electronics Seocho Building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, announcing that it had secured union membership representing the majority of all employees. According to the union, the number of union members has increased from about 6,000 before September last year to 75,000 as of now. This exceeds the majority threshold of 64,000. The union also stated that it had submitted a joint inquiry to the Ministry of Employment and Labor in February as part of the official procedures.

Choi Seungho, head of the Trans-Company Labor Union’s Samsung Electronics branch, said at the press conference, “Achieving this remarkable growth to around 74,000 members in just seven months is the result of the earnest voices of Samsung Electronics employees who want change coming together as one,” adding, “The era in which the labor-management council, unilaterally operated by the company, represents workers is now over.”

Under the current Labor Standards Act, a majority union has the legal authority, as the representative of workers, to directly negotiate in writing with the employer over key working conditions such as flexible or selective working hours.

The union emphasized that, leveraging its bargaining power as a majority union, it will work to improve working conditions and protect the rights and interests of all Samsung Electronics employees. The union plans to block any unilateral changes to work rules that are unfavorable to workers, organize a labor-management council centered on union members, and introduce the ‘union shop’ system, under which employees are automatically enrolled in the union upon joining the company.

Choi stressed, “The power of the majority is the power to negotiate, and we will achieve tangible improvements in rights and interests that our members can feel, based on the legitimacy that our numbers provide.”

Pressure on Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong was also heightened. Choi said, “In the past, Chairman Lee made a public apology and promised to end the no-union management policy, but nothing has changed. We strongly urge Chairman Lee to come out and have a frank and open discussion with us for the establishment of genuine labor-management relations.”

The union is planning a large-scale rally at the Pyeongtaek plant on the 23rd, followed by a strike from May 21 to June 7.

Choi stated, “We expect 30,000 to 40,000 union members to attend the general rally on the 23rd. If the strike continues for 18 days, considering equipment backup, we estimate the company could suffer losses of at least 20 trillion to 30 trillion won.”

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