[Edaily Reporter KIM SAE-MI ] SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940) The labor union at Samsung Biologics will launch its second general strike starting on the 26th, lasting three weeks. After the first general strike, which lasted five days last May, the gap between management and the union regarding wage increases, performance-based bonuses, and personnel systems has not narrowed, prompting the union to announce another full-scale strike approximately five months later. Management has stated that while it is difficult to accept the union’s demands, it remains open to reaching an agreement through dialogue.

Union Demands 15% Base Pay Increase and 15% of Operating Profit as Performance Bonuses; Management Offers “6.2% Wage Increase”

According to the biotech industry on the 2nd

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the SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS Win-Win Labor Union distributed strike guidelines to its members and announced it would launch a second general strike for three weeks starting on the 26th.

Labor and management held three rounds of post-mediation meetings from the 8th of last month through the 1st of this month but failed to reach an agreement. According to the union, management maintained the 6.2% wage increase proposed last March even during the final mediation session. The union explained that management also insisted—citing public disclosures and other data—that it provides compensation levels higher than those of competitors.

The union decided to launch a second general strike, protesting that management has failed to present a substantive negotiation proposal. Ahead of the general strike, the union will also escalate its “work-to-rule” campaign starting today. They have decided to fulfill their mandatory monthly working hours but refuse to work voluntary overtime, respond to work-related requests after hours or on days off, or participate in emergency on-call or duty shifts. Their policy is to comply with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and safety regulations without unduly increasing their work pace.

Management maintains that while it has conducted sufficient negotiations to reach an agreement on wages and the collective bargaining agreement, the union’s demands are difficult to accept.

A SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS spokesperson stated, “We have approached the process with sincerity and good faith—from dozens of rounds of negotiations with the union to mediation and post-mediation procedures by the Labor Relations Commission—in order to reach an amicable conclusion on the 2026 wage and collective bargaining agreement,” adding, “We deeply regret that we have not yet reached an agreement.”

The union and management have significant differences regarding the magnitude of wage increases and performance bonuses. According to the company, the union is demanding a fixed-salary increase totaling 15% and a plan to distribute 15% of operating profit as performance bonuses. Issues related to personnel and management rights are also included in the union’s demands.

In response, the company drew a clear line, stating, “The union’s demands—including a total fixed-salary increase of 15%, the allocation of 15% of operating profit as performance bonuses, and issues related to personnel and management rights—are at a level that the company finds difficult to accept.”

Management maintains that, considering current employee compensation levels and the proposed amendments to the collective bargaining agreement, it has already accommodated a significant portion of the union’s demands. According to the company, the average salary per employee at SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS is approximately 114 million won. Management argued, “Even if we apply the 6.2% wage increase proposed this year, it remains the highest level among domestic pharmaceutical and biotech companies.”

Regarding the collective bargaining agreement, the company proposed expanding it to a total of 74 clauses by amending and supplementing the 41 existing clauses signed in 2024 and adding 33 new clauses. The company explained that it sought to broadly reflect the union’s demands through this proposal.

150 billion won in losses from the first strike… Appeal against the preliminary injunction also a wild card

Management also expressed concern that the second general strike could lead to actual production disruptions. Since biopharmaceuticals require continuous production processes, if certain processes are halted due to a strike, the entire batch currently in production may have to be discarded.

In fact, the first general strike resulted in a loss of 150 billion won. This was because the company preemptively discarded some batches ahead of the strike, anticipating that production processes might be interrupted midway, necessitating the disposal of the entire batch.

The company emphasized, “If the second strike goes ahead, the damage will go beyond short-term revenue losses to have a devastating impact on the company’s long-term competitiveness, causing significant harm not only to the company but also to all employees.”

The outcome of the company’s appeal against the preliminary injunction is also a key variable. A SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS official predicted, “Depending on the result of the appeal, it will become clearer exactly which production processes the union can strike and to what extent,” adding, “Based on this, we will be able to formulate specific response plans.”

Management plans to continue negotiations until the general strike begins. A SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS spokesperson emphasized, “The company remains committed to resolving this wage and collective bargaining agreement through dialogue,” adding, “We expect the union to make a reasonable decision, and we will keep communication channels open and strive for a forward-looking agreement.”

Meanwhile, the labor-management conflict at SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS has been ongoing for over half a year. After labor dispute mediation broke down on March 23, the union conducted a partial strike in late April and staged its first general strike for five days from May 1 to May 5. Since then, it has continued a “compliance campaign” by refusing to work overtime or on holidays. Although labor and management have undergone three rounds of post-strike mediation since the first general strike, they have been unable to bridge their differences on key issues, raising the likelihood of another full-scale strike.