The Samsung Electronics Labor Union Donghaeng, largely consisting of employees from the Device eXperience (DX) division handling finished products such as home appliances, has decided to hold rallies near the private residence of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong starting on the 18th.

The Donghaeng union plans to hold a launch ceremony and rallies near Chairman Lee's residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 18th, and continue the rallies and one-person protests until the end of this month.

The union stated that it has reported a rally participation of 200 people and is discussing solidarity with the Samsung Heavy Industries union.

An official from the Donghaeng union told SBS over the phone, "We plan to proceed until the end of September, and once the union election concludes and the 5th executive body is launched, we will discuss whether to continue the rallies."

The Donghaeng union argues that the DX division was marginalized during the wage negotiation process agreed upon by Samsung Electronics management and labor last May, and that the compensation gap with the Device Solutions (DS) division, which handles the semiconductor business, is excessive.

Accordingly, the union is demanding a separate compensation plan to bridge the gap for the DX division in future wage negotiations, the creation and distribution of common financial resources based on company-wide performance, and the uniform application of the base salary increase rate across the entire company.

An official from the Donghaeng union claimed, "There is currently no communication with management at all," adding, "As the DX division could face further difficulties at this rate, management must come up with countermeasures and open a discussion table."

Previously, on August 21, the Donghaeng union held a rally near the Samsung Electronics Seocho Office building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, arguing that the deterioration of profitability in the DX division was due to management failure, and demanded direct communication with management.

In some business circles, criticisms have also been raised that launching collective action to demand additional compensation when the wage negotiations between labor and management have already been concluded lacks justification.

(Photo: Yonhap News)