The Samsung Biologics labor union has decided to postpone its second general strike, originally scheduled for the 26th, and will seek to resume negotiations with the company. This change in strategy comes after a court recognized key production processes that must continue operating during a strike, and with participation from union members falling significantly short of expectations.
According to industry sources on the 20th, the Samsung Biologics Win-Win Labor Union has decided to delay the planned three-week general strike starting on the 26th and will reschedule it. The union requested negotiations with the company on the evening of the 19th and plans to announce a temporary general meeting to raise a strike fund on the 22nd. A union representative stated, "We will continue to prepare while maintaining dialogue."
The postponement of the strike appears to have been significantly influenced by the court's decision. On the 16th, the Incheon First Civil Division of the Seoul High Court issued a ruling recognizing nine key production processes at Samsung Biologics as essential operations that must continue during a strike. This expanded the number of restricted processes from three to nine, including flask and incubator cultivation, recovery, chromatography, virus filtration, and bulk filling.
The court determined that halting the biopharmaceutical production processes poses a high risk of spoilage or degradation of raw materials and products. Consequently, the union must maintain normal staffing levels, operating hours, and scale for these processes even during a strike, effectively making it difficult to pressure the company through production disruptions.
Low participation rates among union members have also hindered the union leadership. As of the 19th, only 1,515 members, or 37.8% of the total 4,006 members, indicated they would participate in the strike. Despite the union issuing guidelines allowing members to join the strike for even a single day, participation did not increase. Within the union, doubts about the effectiveness of the strike and negotiation strategies have reportedly led to calls for accountability from the leadership.
The union and the company have been at odds for over six months over issues such as wage increases and improvements to personnel systems. After negotiations broke down in March, the union conducted partial strikes in April and a full strike from May 1 to 5. Since then, they have continued a legal struggle by refusing overtime and holiday work. After failing to reach an agreement in three subsequent mediations, the union had announced plans for a second general strike.
A Samsung Biologics representative stated, "We have received official notification from the union regarding the postponement of the strike and their request for negotiations," adding that the company will continue to strive for dialogue with the union.
According to industry sources on the 20th, the Samsung Biologics Win-Win Labor Union has decided to delay the planned three-week general strike starting on the 26th and will reschedule it. The union requested negotiations with the company on the evening of the 19th and plans to announce a temporary general meeting to raise a strike fund on the 22nd. A union representative stated, "We will continue to prepare while maintaining dialogue."
The postponement of the strike appears to have been significantly influenced by the court's decision. On the 16th, the Incheon First Civil Division of the Seoul High Court issued a ruling recognizing nine key production processes at Samsung Biologics as essential operations that must continue during a strike. This expanded the number of restricted processes from three to nine, including flask and incubator cultivation, recovery, chromatography, virus filtration, and bulk filling.
The court determined that halting the biopharmaceutical production processes poses a high risk of spoilage or degradation of raw materials and products. Consequently, the union must maintain normal staffing levels, operating hours, and scale for these processes even during a strike, effectively making it difficult to pressure the company through production disruptions.
Low participation rates among union members have also hindered the union leadership. As of the 19th, only 1,515 members, or 37.8% of the total 4,006 members, indicated they would participate in the strike. Despite the union issuing guidelines allowing members to join the strike for even a single day, participation did not increase. Within the union, doubts about the effectiveness of the strike and negotiation strategies have reportedly led to calls for accountability from the leadership.
The union and the company have been at odds for over six months over issues such as wage increases and improvements to personnel systems. After negotiations broke down in March, the union conducted partial strikes in April and a full strike from May 1 to 5. Since then, they have continued a legal struggle by refusing overtime and holiday work. After failing to reach an agreement in three subsequent mediations, the union had announced plans for a second general strike.
A Samsung Biologics representative stated, "We have received official notification from the union regarding the postponement of the strike and their request for negotiations," adding that the company will continue to strive for dialogue with the union.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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