Union claims chipmaker controls key personnel and pay policies as wage deadlock fuels plans for three-week strike
Samsung Biologics’ labor union is seeking to bring Samsung Electronics into its prolonged wage dispute, demanding direct negotiations on personnel and compensation policies it says the chipmaker effectively controls.
The union said Tuesday it had sent a bargaining request to Samsung Electronics, which holds a 30.92 percent stake in the biopharmaceuticals company as its second-largest shareholder. It argues that Samsung Electronics’ influence over those policies qualifies it as an employer under Korean labor law.
The request covers employee evaluations, performance-linked compensation, promotions and the rules governing personnel and reward systems. The union asked Samsung Electronics to provide relevant human resources information and name its bargaining representatives by Monday, proposing an initial meeting at Samsung Biologics on Oct. 14.
The union said its demands were limited to matters over which it believes Samsung Electronics exercises actual employer authority. If the company does not act on the request, it plans to seek corrective measures through the labor relations commission and pursue a determination of Samsung Electronics’ employer status.
The latest dispute came as Samsung Biologics’ management and its labor union still remain deadlocked over wages and personnel reforms after more than six months of negotiations.
The two sides underwent through three rounds of postmediation talks, but failed to narrow their differences. The union has since announced plans to launch its second strike for three weeks starting Oct. 26.
The union previously staged a partial strike in late April, followed by a full-scale walkout from May 1-5, which it described as its first general strike. It has since continued a work-to-rule campaign, including refusing overtime and holiday work.
Samsung Biologics estimated that the five-day walkout in May resulted in a loss of about 150 billion won ($112 million), equating to about a quarter of the firm’s operating profit in the second quarter of this year.
Samsung Biologics, meanwhile, is showcasing its global top-tier contract development and manufacturing organization capabilities at a series of international events across the world this month as it takes part in CPHI Milan 2026 from Tuesday to Thursday, Bio Japan 2026 in Yokohama from Wednesday to Friday and the World ADC San Diego slated for Oct. 12 to 15.
hwkan@heraldcorp.com
