A Union with Two Members
The first labor union in Samsung Electronics has been recently formed. As a result, the number of labor unions in the 62 subsidiaries of the Samsung Group has increased to nine.
According to industry sources, the Anyang Branch of the Jungbu Regional Employment and Labor Administration of the Ministry of Employment and Labor accepted a labor union organization report from two Samsung Electronics employees in February this year.
“The two employees was the minimum requirement for the organization of the union, and the current number may be more than that although it is not easy to find out the exact number,” the ministry explained, adding, “The union is the first Samsung Electronics union approved by the Ministry of Employment and Labor.”
The business community is paying keen attention to the new union as its membership can increase with time along with its activities. Samsung Electronics Service recently said, while turning 8,000 subcontractor employees into its employees, it would guarantee legal union activities.
Still, those in the know and some in Samsung Electronics itself point out it would take time for the union to increase its influence. According to them, this is because Samsung Electronics employees are currently treated better than most in all industries and its corporate culture has rejected a union for a long time. In fact, each of the other unions in the Samsung Group has a small number of members. The other eight are Samsung C&T Everland, Samsung SDI, S-1, Samsung Welstory, Samsung Life Insurance, Samsung Securities, Samsung Engineering, and Samsung Electronics Service.