Choi Seung-ho, chair of Samsung Electronics' largest labor union / Joint Press Corps
Samsung Electronics' largest labor union said Tuesday that its members approved a confidence vote in Chairman Choi Seung-ho, reaffirming support for the union leader despite criticism over a recently concluded wage agreement with management.
The motion passed with 87.5 percent support among participating members after recording a 70.8-percent voter turnout, the union said. Under union rules, the motion required approval from more than half of the members who voted.
In a statement, Choi said the union would pursue separate bargaining for Samsung's device solution (DS) division, which oversees the company's lucrative semiconductor business, by utilizing Korea's labor law provisions that allow bargaining-unit separation.
"Even if the separation is not approved, we will seek better results for the DS division through independent negotiations by the industrial union," Choi said.
