The Donghaeng Union, representing Samsung Electronics' Device Experience (DX) division, took to the streets again after concluding this year's wage negotiations. Following the agreement, the union demanded additional compensation and staged a march through the heart of Gangnam during Friday's rush hour.
The protest occurred on August 21 in front of Samsung's Seocho office in Seoul, starting at 4 p.m. The march from Gangnam Station to the Seocho office coincided with a peak time for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Some lanes were blocked during the march, affecting traffic flow in the area.
The union's demands include an additional compensation of 1,000 shares of company stock per DX employee and a complete re-evaluation of the 2026 wage negotiations. They argue that the DX division has not received compensation commensurate with its performance compared to the semiconductor-focused Device Solutions (DS) division.
However, the timing of the protest raises questions. Samsung Electronics and the labor union had already reached an agreement on the 2026 wage negotiations in May. The union's call for a re-opening of these negotiations months later has drawn criticism, being labeled a 'backward protest' for revisiting an already settled issue.
The method of the protest is also controversial. The Donghaeng Union participated in the demonstration using the company's 'D-day' leave system and annual leave, claiming that participation was voluntary and not a strike. However, the overlap with regular working hours and the urban march raises concerns about the appropriateness of their tactics in labor relations.
Choosing to march in Gangnam during the busy Friday evening commute has drawn criticism for inconveniencing citizens who are not directly involved in the union's demands. The protest, intended to raise awareness about compensation issues, risks generating negative perceptions of the union as it disrupts the daily commute of the public.
The demand for 1,000 shares represents a significant additional compensation based on Samsung's stock price. To successfully advocate for this request after the wage negotiations have concluded, the union must clarify the actual compensation gap between the DX and DS divisions and justify why the previous agreement should be revisited. Simply increasing the size of the protest and taking to the streets may not be sufficient to persuade the company, employees, and the public.
As Samsung focuses on regaining competitiveness in key sectors like artificial intelligence and semiconductors, the union's assertive actions could introduce new tensions in labor relations. If protests that inconvenience the public continue, the union risks being perceived more as 'the union that blocked the commute' rather than effectively addressing compensation issues.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.