Samsung Biologics, the biotech division of Samsung Group, will return to the negotiation table this week following a failed initial round of talks. The discussions, set for Monday and facilitated by the Jungbu regional employment and labor office, aim to address the ongoing strike by the company’s union, now in its third day. The strike marks the union’s first-ever walkout, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
“Our decision to engage in dialogue during the walkout was in response to the labor ministry’s arbitration request, reflecting our commitment to resolving the issue amicably,” stated a company source. The company representative has called on the labor union to cease their “irrational” demands and collective actions, emphasizing the importance of returning to the negotiation table.
During the previous arbitration meeting, the labor union purportedly insisted on the replacement of all bargaining committee members as a condition for further discussions. The unionized workers at Samsung Biologics initiated the strike on Friday, advocating for a 14 percent increase in both base and performance-related pay, a one-time cash incentive of 30 million won (US$20,389.9) per worker, and bonuses amounting to 20 percent of annual operating profit.
In response, the company has proposed a combined 6.2 percent increment in base and performance pay. Approximately 2,800 out of 4,000 unionized members have partaken in the collective action, according to the company’s labor union. Samsung Biologics estimates potential damages of at least 640 billion won due to the walkout, roughly half of the company’s first-quarter sales. The union has expressed intentions to sustain the strike until Tuesday.
The unionized workers have urged Samsung Biologics to establish “fair and transparent” personnel management standards. According to a union statement, the demand centers on transparent exercise of personnel and management authority by the company to foster employee trust and conducive work environments. The labor union has purportedly put forth a collective bargaining agreement that includes provisions necessitating union consent for new hires, personnel assessments, and decisions related to mergers and acquisitions.
