Samsung Biologics union demands bargaining with Samsung Electronics

The labor union at Samsung Biologics has officially demanded collective bargaining with Samsung Electronics, claiming the latter acts as the practical employer. The union argues that Samsung Electronics, which holds a 31.22% stake in Samsung Biologics, has been substantially involved in designing and operating personnel and compensation systems, including job grades, evaluation criteria, and core talent selection.

The union has requested that Samsung Electronics provide relevant personnel data by December 12 and participate in initial negotiations on December 14. If Samsung Electronics fails to follow legal procedures regarding this request, the union plans to file for corrections with the Labor Relations Commission and may pursue administrative litigation to determine Samsung Electronics' status as an employer under labor laws.

This escalation follows a prolonged wage dispute between Samsung Biologics management and the union. While the company maintains that its average annual salary of approximately 114 million KRW is highly competitive, the union disputes this, citing lower compensation for specific ranks compared to competitors like Celltrion. The union has already announced plans for a second three-week general strike starting on December 26.