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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] The entire leadership of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU), the largest labor union within Samsung Electronics, has announced its early resignation, roughly nine months ahead of the official end of its term. The unexpected move, triggered by internal discord, is expected to delay ongoing negotiations with management over performance bonuses and welfare improvements.
On June 8, NSEU Chairman Son Woo-mok, head of the union’s third executive committee, posted a public statement on the union’s website announcing the decision. “All executive members have decided to resign as of today, ending our term early,” Son wrote. “We are stepping down responsibly to give the incoming leadership enough time to prepare, especially with next year’s wage negotiations and the fourth-term leadership election overlapping.”
The current executives were scheduled to serve until March 2026, with elections for the fourth executive committee set for September 2025. However, internal friction escalated following allegations of a behind-the-scenes agreement between union leaders and company management regarding the 2025 wage and collective bargaining deal, prompting the collective resignation.
In March, the union and management reached a wage agreement that included an average pay raise of 5.1%—comprising a 3.0% base increase and a 2.1% performance-based increase. Tensions rose when it was later revealed that union executives had negotiated a higher performance raise for themselves through a separate agreement with the company, sparking backlash among union members.
Despite the leadership’s explanation that the decision aimed to "strengthen the union through renewal and recruitment of new leadership," member dissatisfaction has resulted in mass withdrawals. Union membership has dropped sharply from 36,000 in early March to just over 30,000 as of May 30.
With more than three months remaining until a new leadership election, NSEU plans to operate under an emergency steering committee to stabilize union operations and restore member trust.
AlphaBIZ Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
