According to industry sources, the union plans to present demands for formal employment guarantees and special incentive payments during negotiations starting June 10.
The union aims to focus on job security and the protection of workers' rights, regardless of the sale's outcome. To this end, they convened an expanded executive meeting and delegate conference at the Gumi regional office of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions on May 29, where they established key demands for this year's negotiations, including guarantees for job security, full succession of existing working conditions, and fair compensation measures for members.
Choi Moo-hwan, chairman of the SK Siltron union, stated, "Last year's negotiations resulted in a declarative agreement on job retention, but we failed to formalize it into effective institutional measures like collective agreements. This year, we are making job retention assurances a core issue in our negotiations."
The demand for special incentive payments is also expected to be on the negotiation table. The union argues that members need compensation due to prolonged uncertainty during the sale process. However, they have not specified the scale or criteria for the incentive payments, considering the sale's uncertain status.
These demands come as the sale of SK Siltron has faced delays. SK Group selected Doosan Group as the preferred bidder at the end of last year, intending to finalize the deal early this year. However, the recent semiconductor market boom has complicated negotiations for both parties, leading to speculation about the possibility of the sale falling through.
The union has expressed its commitment to exploring all possible responses to secure job stability during the upcoming negotiations. Chairman Choi emphasized, "Job security is not a matter of choice but a fundamental responsibility to protect our members' lives and the local economy. We will review all means available to the union, including negotiations, to ensure job security and respond responsibly."
The union's demands are seen as a factor that could increase the burden on Doosan Group regarding the acquisition. Formalizing employment guarantees in a collective agreement could limit flexibility in future workforce management and organizational restructuring.
An industry insider noted, "With the improvement in the semiconductor market, there are expectations within SK Siltron for a reassessment of the sale. The union's demand for job security reflects not just a collective bargaining issue but also the uncertainties surrounding the sale."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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