Samsung Union Wage Agreement Vote Sees Significant Increase, Final Approval Within Reach

**Samsung’s Largest Union Sees Strong Early Turnout for 2026 Wage Deal, Expected to Pass** On May 25, the largest union in the Samsung Group recorded a sharp jump in approval voting rates for the 2026 wage and collective bargaining preliminary agreement, boosting expectations the deal will be finalized. Still, fairness debates persist over significant bonus gaps between Samsung’s semiconductor (DS) division and its Device eXperience (DX) division, plus gaps between its memory and non-memory segments. As of 8:29 a.m. local time May 25 (7:29 a.m. Beijing time), 49,363 of 57,291 eligible voters had cast approval votes, hitting an 86.16% turnout rate. This vote is the final step to decide whether to ratify the preliminary wage and collective bargaining deal reached by Samsung’s labor and management teams. The core terms: 10.5% of the DS division’s operational performance will be allocated to a special management performance bonus fund, to be paid out in stock shares. Industry analysts point out that DS division members make up roughly 80% of the union’s overall membership—its majority—meaning the deal has high odds of passing. Final confirmation requires two criteria: a majority of eligible voters must participate, and a majority of participating voters must approve. Voting closes at 10 a.m. on May 27. Source: Jinse.