As the launch of the SK Hynix Unified Labor Union (Unified Union) enters its final stages, signs of coordinated action with Samsung Electronics' Early Career Union are emerging. Opposition to the restructuring of performance pay linked to company stock is coalescing into a movement for union solidarity across groups.
According to industry sources on the 12th, the number of members in the Unified Union Task Force (TF) formed to establish the SK Hynix Unified Union surpassed 1,470 just four days after submitting its launch application. The Unified Union TF considers it unreasonable for management to attempt to change the performance pay (PS) distribution method to one linked to company stock. It is reported that during six prior rounds of main negotiations, management proposed allocating 60–70% of company stock, imposing a 2–4 year selling restriction, and adjusting wages in case of losses.
In response to such opposition, employees who were previously divided among three separate unions are now uniting under the Unified Union, accelerating efforts to secure majority union status (18,000 members). The Unified Union TF stated, "Our top priority is to unite members' opinions across job categories and regions to form a majority union." It further emphasized, "We will build a 100% independent union not subordinate to federations such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions or the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, enhancing unity and bargaining power to maximize our ability to respond to external pressure and management."
It was confirmed that the Unified Union TF has contacted Samsung Electronics' Early Career Union and exchanged views on the performance pay restructuring. In a member notice, the Samsung Electronics Early Career Union stated, "We received contact from SK Hynix's Unified Union Lim Si (Chairman) and had a brief discussion." It added, "The most significant issue is that SK Hynix is requesting changes to terms agreed upon by labor and management over the past 10 years, leading to growing dissatisfaction among members." The union also revealed, "Given that the Early Career Union provided support during last year's Cheongju Union dispute at SK Hynix, we are considering issuing a joint statement on major issues."
The Unified Union plans to concentrate its efforts on blocking management's push for performance pay linked to company stock. The Unified Union TF stated, "Attempting to convert the excess profit-sharing fund (PS), which was agreed upon with long-term application in mind, into stocks constitutes an unfavorable change to employment rules for workers and would require collective consent under the Labor Standards Act; we will block such moves through proper legal procedures." Additionally, as a countermeasure against management's refusal to pay PS in cash, it declared, "Changing the payment method, such as issuing stocks instead of cash, infringes on workers' rights and requires the consent of a majority of workers. To prevent this, we will proactively secure company-wide signatures of opposition." The union also presented its stance on eliminating performance pay disparities: after restoring worsened wages for all employees, it will unify the PS reflection ratio for office workers and full-time staff to be identical.
However, even if the Unified Union launches, whether it can immediately join this year's wage and collective bargaining negotiations remains uncertain. Since negotiation procedures between existing unions and management are already underway, the immediate participation of a new organization is legally complex. In fact, management and existing unions held relay negotiations from the previous day until early morning today but failed to find common ground, resuming negotiations again in the afternoon.
Regarding this, the Unified Union TF explained, "If we secure majority union status by obtaining over half of all workers' support, we can assume and exercise bargaining rights." It added, "We will proceed with legal review and follow due process." The TF further noted, "Matters negotiated by existing unions will be inherited along with bargaining rights. Even if direct negotiation is difficult at this stage, we will actively voice our opinions on this year's collective agreement through observation of negotiations, requests for progress disclosures, and conveying members' views."
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