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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] A labor union at Samsung Electronics, which is preparing for a potential general strike in May, has sparked controversy after warning of possible disadvantages for employees who refuse to join the strike.
According to the union’s joint struggle headquarters on March 8, a vote on industrial action among union members will take place from March 9 to March 18. The coalition includes the Samsung Electronics branch of the Korean Metal Workers’ Union, the National Samsung Electronics Union, and the Samsung Electronics Union Donghaeng, with an estimated 90,000 members in total.
If a majority of members approve the strike, the union plans to hold a mass rally at Samsung’s semiconductor complex in Pyeongtaek on April 23, followed by an 18-day general strike from May 21 to June 7.
However, controversy arose after union leadership suggested possible repercussions for employees who do not participate.
Choi Seung-ho, head of the Samsung Electronics branch of the metal workers’ union, said during a union YouTube broadcast on March 5 that the leadership plans to occupy a union office in Pyeongtaek during the strike and recruit staff to monitor participation.
He also warned that employees who continue working during the strike could be recorded on a list and later subject to measures such as forced job transfers or even dismissal discussions, comments that critics say amount to creating a “blacklist” of nonparticipants.
Choi further said the union plans to operate a reporting center for employees who support management, offering financial rewards to members who provide reports.
Some employees have criticized the remarks as excessive. One Samsung worker said that while many employees sympathize with the union’s demand to remove the cap on the excess profit incentive (OPI) bonus system, a strike is not universally supported.
“The union saying it will track employees who don’t join the strike crosses a line,” the employee said, adding that such rhetoric could create fear and division among workers.
Under South Korea’s Trade Union and Labor Relations Adjustment Act, persuasion or appeals to participate in industrial action are permitted, but violence or threats are prohibited.
If carried out, the May strike would mark Samsung Electronics’ second major labor strike since July 2024. At that time, about 32,000 union members participated, but membership has since grown significantly. The metal workers’ union branch alone now has more than 66,000 members.
Notably, about 65.4% of union members belong to Samsung’s Device Solutions (DS) semiconductor division, raising concerns that a large-scale strike could disrupt memory chip production.
Samsung Electronics recently began mass production and shipments of sixth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM4) chips, which are expected to be used in Nvidia’s next-generation AI accelerator “Vera Rubin,” scheduled for release later this year.
Industry observers warn that a prolonged strike could affect timely supply of advanced AI memory chips, potentially impacting Samsung’s position in the rapidly intensifying HBM competition.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
