Samsung Biologics Labor and Management to Hold Second Post-Mediation Session on 22; Union Considers Collective Action

[Financial News] Samsung Biologics’ labor and management will enter the second round of post-mediation on the 22nd to resolve disputes over wage increases and personnel system improvements. The union is considering collective action if they fail to reach an agreement in this round as well.
According to industry sources on the 21st, Samsung Biologics’ labor and management will conduct the second round of post-mediation on the 22nd. Post-mediation is an additional mediation procedure conducted by agreement between labor and management to resolve a dispute even after labor-dispute mediation has ended.
The second post-mediation session was originally scheduled for the 15th but was postponed until the 22nd at management’s request. Labor and management previously held the first post-mediation session on the 8th.
The Samsung Biologics union is reportedly taking a dim view of the chances of reaching an agreement in the mediation session on the 22nd. The union said, "There has been no major progress since the voluntary negotiations on the 18th," and added, "Because a team leader-level representative, rather than a vice president-level representative, is scheduled to attend the post-mediation session on the 22nd, we judge that there is no possibility of reaching an agreement."
The union has said it will lean toward collective action if no additional proposal for progress is presented.
Samsung Biologics’ labor and management have continued negotiations since early this year over wage increases, performance bonuses and improvements to the personnel system. The union has demanded, among other things, that 20% of operating profit be paid as a performance bonus.
After labor-management mediation broke down on March 23, the union staged a partial strike from April 28 to 30 and a full-scale strike from May 1 to 5. This was the first strike since Samsung Biologics was founded. The union has since continued a work-to-rule campaign by refusing overtime and holiday work.
The company estimated the losses caused by the strike at approximately KRW 150 billion. Although labor-management negotiations continued afterward, the two sides have been unable to reach an agreement for months.
[email protected] Jung Sang-hee Reporter