Samsung Compliance Committee to monitor internal labor union conflicts

The Samsung Compliance Committee has announced it will closely monitor escalating conflicts between labor unions within Samsung Electronics. Lee Chan-hee, chairman of the committee, emphasized that labor rights must be respected not only in employer-employee relations but also in relations between different unions.

The dispute involves the massive Samsung Electronics branch of the National Union of Samsung Employees and the Donghaeng Union, which primarily represents employees in the Device Experience (DX) division. The friction stems from disagreements over performance-based bonuses and bargaining rights, but has expanded into mutual accusations and personal controversies.

Key issues include allegations that Choi Seung-ho, chairman of the Samsung Electronics branch, illegally accessed personal information of approximately 100,000 employees to manage a ‘blacklist’ of union members, a matter recently referred to prosecutors. Additionally, controversy has arisen regarding a contract between the union and a company owned by Choi’s father-in-law for protest supplies. Choi has denied any personal profit, stating the contract was chosen based on price and delivery speed.

The Compliance Committee is also looking into allegations of fraudulent receipt of monthly rent subsidies within the semiconductor (DS) division. Lee stated that if any legal or principled violations are confirmed, Samsung will handle them according to established rules.