Samsung apologizes for union busting

Samsung Electronics and its de facto holding company Samsung C&T on Wednesday released a statement that included a public apology for the conglomerate’s efforts to disrupt the formation of trade unions at some of its affiliates.

The apology was made one day after a Seoul court handed down jail terms to key executives of the electronics unit, including Lee Sang-hoon, Samsung Electronics’ chairman of board, and Chung Keum-yong, CEO of Samsung C&T.

“The company acknowledges that its view and perception of trade unions in the past didn’t meet expectations of the general public and society,” the statement said.

Since its foundation, Samsung has had maintained the “no union” management principle for some 50 years.

However, there have been constant efforts to create labor unions at some Samsung affiliates.

Last month, the first trade union of Samsung Electronics announced its launch under the Korea Federation of Trade Unions.

“The official statement is interpreted as the company’s determination to prevent a repeat of such controversy over sabotaging labor activities and make fundamental changes to the non-labor union policy,” said an official.

By Song Su-hyun (song@heraldcorp.com)