Samsung’s Massive Wage Vote: 85% Turnout Sparks Internal Conflict

Translation result.

By Kim Hyo-jin, iNews24 — On May 24, the third day of voting on Samsung Electronics’ tentative wage agreement, turnout exceeded 85%.

As of 5 p.m., the Samsung Group Trans-Company Union’s Samsung branch—the largest union at Samsung Electronics—reported that 48,738 of 57,290 eligible members had voted, an 85.1% turnout.

At the same time, the second-largest union, the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union, reported 6,655 of 8,187 members voted, an 81.3% turnout. Combined, the unions’ turnout stood at 84.6%.

Voting began at 2:12 p.m. on May 22 and will continue through 10 a.m. on May 27. The agreement will be ratified if a majority of eligible voters participate and a majority of ballots cast approve it.

With opinions divided inside the company, the National Samsung Electronics Labor Union and the third-largest union, the Samsung Electronics Labor Union Donghaeng, are campaigning to reject the deal.

Moves by shareholders to challenge the tentative agreement are also gathering pace. Small-shareholder platform ACT said Samsung accepted its May 23 request to inspect and copy the shareholder register.

ACT said the inspection is scheduled for May 27 or 28, and the Shareholders’ Movement Headquarters said it will call for an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting once it obtains the register.

Earlier, Samsung and the unions drafted a tentative 2026 wage agreement that would create a semiconductor special performance bonus funded by 10.5% of operating profit and raise average wages by 6.2% (a 4.1% base increase plus a 2.1% performance increase).

Under the plan, Device Solutions (DS, semiconductors) employees could receive performance bonuses roughly ranging from 210 million KRW (approximately $157,500) to 600 million KRW (approximately $450,000) (pre‑tax), based on a 100 million KRW annual salary (approximately $75,000).

By contrast, Device Experience (DX) division employees, who handle smartphones, appliances and TVs, are likely to receive company stock worth around 6 million KRW (approximately $4,500) as performance pay.