The labor union of Samsung Electronics has successfully held a vote regarding a labor dispute, with an overwhelming 93.1% approving the motion to strike. The union, composed of three factions within Samsung, anticipates a general strike set for May. Approximately 66,000 of the 90,000 total members participated in the vote, resulting in a participation rate of 73.5%. Attempts to mediate through the Central Labor Relations Commission were unproductive, pushing them toward this decisive voting action.

The union's demands center around three main issues: a 7% wage increase, transparency in bonus calculation, and the removal of the upper limit on performance bonuses (OPI). The contentious issue is the criteria for granting excess profit bonuses, as union members believe that the bonuses they receive are significantly lower compared to their competitor, SK Hynix, which recently eliminated its bonus cap. Currently, Samsung has set a performance bonus limit of 50% of an individual’s annual salary.

Negotiations between the union and the management have been ongoing since November of the previous year, but have stalled without reaching an agreement. The management has expressed concerns that removing the cap on excess profit bonuses could lead to feelings of deprivation among many departments that find exceeding profit goals challenging. This ongoing discord highlights broader tensions in labor relations within the tech industry in South Korea, raising questions about equitable compensation and job satisfaction among workers.