Samsung DX Union Plans Rally in Front of Lee Jae-yong’s Residence... Times Square Advertisement in New York as Well (Comprehensive)

Claiming Profitability Decline Is a Management Failure
"We Are Still Here" in a 15-Second Billboard Message

Samsung Electronics Labor Union Donghaeng (hereinafter referred to as Donghaeng Union), which mainly consists of employees from the Device eXperience (DX) division responsible for finished products such as home appliances at Samsung Electronics, is holding a rally in front of Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong's residence to call for resolving compensation disparities. The union has also aired related advertisements on an electronic billboard in Times Square, New York, USA.

On the 16th of last month, members of the Samsung Electronics Labor Union Donghaeng (Donghaeng Union) were shouting slogans in front of the Samsung Electronics Suwon Plant in Yeongtong District, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, protesting against the disparity in performance bonuses. Photo by Yonhap News

According to industry sources on September 5, Donghaeng Union plans to begin its campaign with a launch ceremony on the 18th, followed by rallies and solo protests near Chairman Lee's residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Previously, on August 21, the union held a rally near the Samsung Electronics Seocho office, arguing that worsening profitability was the result of management's failures and calling for communication with the management.

A representative of Donghaeng Union told Yonhap News and other outlets, "We plan to proceed in the long term without setting a deadline," adding, "On days when we are unable to officially register the rally, we will continue with solo protests."

Moreover, the video that Donghaeng Union posted on the Times Square electronic billboard on this day (local time) contains messages such as "GREAT PRODUCTS BEGIN WITH PEOPLE. WE ARE STILL HERE." The video, which is 15 seconds long, will be aired every hour at 35 minutes past the hour starting at midnight.

Donghaeng Union claims that during wage negotiations between labor and management in May, the DX division was neglected, and the compensation gap with the Device Solutions (DS) division, responsible for the semiconductor business, was excessive.

The union's demands include: payment of 1,000 company shares per DX division employee; establishment and distribution of a common fund based on a set proportion of companywide performance; and applying the same base salary increase rate (base-up) across the company.

Industry insiders criticize that demanding 1,000 company shares per DX division employee is unreasonable, especially given the management crisis faced by the DX business. Some point out that since wage negotiations had already concluded and an agreement was reached through government mediation, such collective action at this stage lacks justification.

Donghaeng Union did not put forward additional compensation for the DX division or stock awards as agenda items during the more than five months it participated in negotiations as part of a joint bargaining group beginning in December of last year. In early May, Donghaeng Union participated in the joint bargaining group with the Early Enterprise Union and the National Samsung Electronics Union (National Samsung Union), but withdrew from the group, citing the inability to reflect DX division issues. The 2026 wage agreement, prepared through mediation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, was approved with a 73.7% majority in a union vote and is currently being implemented as planned.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.