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3 April, 2025After a series of major strikes across Korea, the National Samsung Electronics Union(NSEU) finally signed a collective bargaining agreement with Samsung Electronics on 5 March.
The affiliate of Federation of Korean Metalworkers' Trade Unions (FKMTU) mobilized 6,000 union members for an indefinite strike in July last year in Hwaseong. Few more strikes occurred in the following months. Samsung management refused to back down.
The collective agreement signed by NSEU includes a 5.1 per cent wage increase, 3 per cent basic increase and a 2.1 per cent performance increase. Both parties agreed to establish a joint task force to enhance the performance-based remuneration system.
The agreement also grants all employees 2 million Familynet Mall points, 30 Samsung Electronics shares and introduces a post-retirement hiring system for employees’ children.
Approximately 88 per cent of NSEU members ratified the decision.
The FKMTU president, Kim Jun Young, said:
“The long and strenous struggle has finally led the National Samsung Electronics Union to reach an agreement. However, the past three years have also reaffirmed Samsung’s persistent adhearance to its no-union policy. The company’s irresponsible attitude throughout the collective bargaining process has rendered chairman Lee-Jae-yong’s declaration to abolish the no-union policy meaningless. Until the disregard and hostility toward labour unions within the Samsung Group are completely eradicated, the unions and workers of Samsung will continue their fight and in that fight the Korean Metal Workers’ Federation will always stand in solidarity.”
IndustriALL ICT, electrical and electronics director Alexander Ivanou said:
“IndustriALL congratulates the National Samsung Electronics Union for the perserverance and dedication in securing a well-deserved agreement that champions fair wages, benefits and future opportunities for employess and their families.”
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