A new mega labor union, formed through the collaboration of four Samsung Group affiliates, has emerged. The union comprises over 10,000 members. While there have been instances of certain unions cooperating in solidarity in the past, this marks the first time such a unified form of establishment has occurred.
The mega union held its inauguration ceremony on Feb. 19 in a meeting room near Gangnam Station in Seoul. This union is the result of the integration of four unions: Samsung Electronics’ DX Union, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance’s Ribbon Union, Samsung Display’s Open Union, and Samsung Biologics’ Win-Win Union.
During the inauguration ceremony on the same day, the mega union read aloud a declaration stating, “We aim to break free from the current irrational labor-management relationship, where we have been subject to uniform control regardless of each affiliate’s business conditions, workforce structure, or business profits under the name of Group or Business Support Task Force.” This explained the background behind the union’s establishment.
It added, “We aim to establish autonomy in labor-management relationships at individual affiliates and conduct flexible labor negotiations on an equal footing, with the goal of establishing wages, welfare benefits, and working conditions tailored to the circumstances of each company.”
In particular, the mega union emphasized that it will focus solely on enhancing the rights and interests of Samsung employees without any political affiliation or higher-level organization. The union stated, “We aspire to depart from past political and violent labor cultures and strive for a legal and rational labor culture. We will thoroughly exclude political color and concentrate all efforts on establishing economic benefits, work-life balance, and healthy working conditions for Samsung employees.”
The estimated number of members in the mega union is around 16,000 and it is estimated that the number will continue to increase in the future. There is speculation about the possibility of additional unions from Samsung Group affiliates, including Samsung Electro-Mechanics’ Respect Union, joining.