Management, union set to resume negotiations Tuesday
Samsung Biologics' labor dispute is entering a new phase with its union pushing to join the Federation of Korean Trade Unions, as a second partial strike enters its second week ahead of their scheduled resumption of collective bargaining next week.
The union plans to hold an online vote from Friday through Tuesday to determine whether to affiliate with the country's second-largest umbrella labor organization, a move that could strengthen its bargaining position as negotiations with management remain deadlocked.
According to industry sources Friday, around 500 union members are participating in the partial walkout, which began Nov. 6 and is scheduled to continue through Nov. 27.
Participants include workers in quality control testing, quality assurance, microbiology, logistics, manufacturing support and production-related functions. The union has instructed members not to handle duties suspended by the strike, while workers outside the designated strike groups have also been instructed to refuse replacement assignments.
The partial nature of the walkout follows a court ruling that restricted industrial action across key manufacturing operations, expanding the scope of work subject to strike injunctions to nine categories. The union has since focused its action on support and indirect production functions.
The company said the walkout had not caused any disruption to production so far.
The push for FKTU affiliation marks another escalation in the dispute. The union said it had reached the conclusion that it needed the backing of a higher-level labor organization after encountering limitations as an enterprise-level union.
FKTU has already voiced support for the Samsung Biologics workers. It submitted a petition to the court last month opposing the company's request to expand restrictions on strike activity. The federation also appeared at the Samsung Biologics union's press conference at the National Assembly last month, pledging support for workers' rights.
The union represents around 4,000 members, all of whom are eligible to participate in the affiliation vote. Approval requires participation by a majority of registered members and support from a majority of those voting.
Whether the proposal will pass remains uncertain, with some industry observers questioning whether the union's relatively young membership will favor affiliation with the FKTU, which has often been embroiled in political disputes.
Meanwhile, the two sides are expected to resume negotiations Tuesday, following a breakdown in plans for intensive talks scheduled for Nov. 3.
Management had requested a two-week postponement, citing concerns over trust and the union's demand to replace certain members of its negotiating team. The union accused the company of unilaterally abandoning the talks and subsequently announced the second round of industrial action.
Both sides have maintained that they remain open to negotiations despite the ongoing strike. The union has said it wants discussions to resume as soon as possible, while management has reiterated its commitment to reaching an agreement through dialogue.
hwkan@heraldcorp.com
