Samsung Biologics workers vote 96.5% to quit Samsung Group United Union
Synopsis
Samsung's group-wide labour coalition, barely a year old, is fracturing from within. Samsung Biologics workers voted 96.5% to leave the Samsung Group United Union — the clearest sign yet that a semiconductor-skewed wage deal has alienated workers in the group's non-chip businesses, from biologics to display to insurance.
Key Takeaways
Samsung Biologics workers voted 96.5% in favour of leaving the Samsung Group United Union on 28 June 2025 .
Of 4,005 eligible members, 2,479 participated in the five-day ballot.
Workers have been running a work-to-rule campaign since early last month, with a three-day partial strike in April and a five-day walkout of 2,800 members in May .
The umbrella union, founded in February 2024 , reportedly lost majority status as of early June as non-chip division members withdrew.
The split follows a wage deal that reportedly concentrated heavy bonuses on Samsung's semiconductor business .
Union negotiations with management are scheduled for this week .
Unionised workers at Samsung Biologics voted overwhelmingly on Sunday, 28 June to leave the Samsung Group United Union, the group-wide labour coalition representing employees across Samsung affiliates. The motion to restructure the union and pursue independent status passed after a five-day vote that began on Wednesday.
Vote Outcome and Participation
Of the 4,005 members with voting rights, 2,479 participated in the ballot. A decisive 96.5 percent voted in favour of breaking away from the umbrella coalition, according to the labour union of Samsung Biologics.
'We believe there is a strong need to switch to an independent labor union, to reflect the interests and demands of our members more directly and swiftly,' the union said in a statement.
Background: Strikes and Wage Disputes
The vote follows months of escalating industrial action at Samsung Biologics. Members have been staging a work-to-rule campaign since early last month, demanding a pay increase and improved working conditions. In late April, the union staged a three-day partial strike, followed by a five-day walkout involving approximately 2,800 members in early May.
Negotiations between the union and management are scheduled to take place this week, making the timing of the independence vote particularly significant.
Cracks in the Samsung Group United Union
The departure of Samsung Biologics workers reflects deepening divisions within the group-wide coalition. The fracture reportedly stems from a wage deal that concentrated heavy bonuses on Samsung's semiconductor business, leaving workers in non-chip divisions — including biologics, display, and insurance — feeling sidelined.
The Samsung Group United Union, founded in February 2024, had included workers from Samsung Display Co., Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co., and the flagship Samsung Electronics Co. According to industry data, it reportedly lost its majority status as of early June, as members from non-chip divisions began withdrawing membership.
What Happens Next
With the independence motion passed, Samsung Biologics workers are expected to formally complete the structural separation and operate as a standalone union. The outcome of this week's management negotiations could set the tone for labour relations across Samsung's life sciences arm. Notably, this is the latest in a series of labour flashpoints across Samsung affiliates in 2025, signalling that the group's unified labour front — assembled barely a year ago — is unravelling faster than anticipated.
Point of View
Barely 16 months after founding, raises questions about whether Samsung's non-semiconductor businesses are being systematically deprioritised in compensation policy. If the biologics exit triggers similar moves from Samsung Display or Samsung Fire workers, the group-wide union experiment could collapse entirely — leaving Samsung with a more fragmented, and potentially more militant, labour landscape than before.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Samsung Biologics workers vote to leave the Samsung Group United Union?
Samsung Biologics workers voted to leave the group-wide coalition primarily to gain independent representation that more directly reflects their specific interests and demands. The move also follows discontent over a wage deal that reportedly concentrated heavy bonuses on Samsung's semiconductor division, leaving non-chip workers feeling underrepresented.
What was the result of the Samsung Biologics union vote?
Of the 4,005 eligible members, 2,479 participated in the five-day ballot, with 96.5 percent voting in favour of leaving the Samsung Group United Union. The vote ran from Wednesday to Sunday, 28 June.
What industrial action have Samsung Biologics workers taken recently?
Workers launched a work-to-rule campaign in early last month demanding higher pay and better conditions. They followed this with a three-day partial strike in late April and a five-day walkout involving around 2,800 members in early May.
What is the Samsung Group United Union and when was it formed?
The Samsung Group United Union is a group-wide labour coalition founded in February 2024, covering workers from Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung Biologics, among others. It reportedly lost its majority status as of early June 2025 as non-chip division members began withdrawing.
What happens next for Samsung Biologics workers?
Following the independence vote, Samsung Biologics workers are expected to formally separate from the group union and operate as a standalone body. The union is also scheduled to hold wage negotiations with Samsung Biologics management this week.
