[Edaily Reporter Minji Son ] SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS(207940)has proposed postponing negotiations with the labor union. The company cited the union’s demands to replace negotiation committee members and its strike warning as factors that have undermined mutual trust. In contrast, the union maintains that management has unilaterally broken off dialogue and is shifting blame, and it plans to proceed with preparations for industrial action as scheduled.

According to industry sources on the 2nd, SAMSUNG BIOLOGICS proposed to the union that day to postpone the negotiations scheduled for the 3rd and take two weeks to foster mutual growth and restore trust.

The company stated, “During talks on the 28th of last month, the union mentioned that it would consider delegating bargaining rights to the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and focusing on industrial action,” adding, “Substantive dialogue cannot take place in an environment where the union unilaterally denies the status of the company’s bargaining representatives while, behind the scenes, proceeding with a strike, making media statements, and pressuring the company through higher-level organizations.”

Furthermore, the company noted, “On the 30th of last month, the union officially requested, via an official letter, the complete exclusion and replacement of the company’s chief bargaining representative,” adding, “This is an unreasonable demand lacking any rational basis, as there is absolutely no evidence that the chief bargaining representative has ever engaged in conduct—such as insulting the union or its bargaining representatives in official settings or intentionally spreading false information.”

However, the company stated, “We are prepared to engage in dialogue at any time if the union ceases its unilateral pressure tactics and requests dialogue based on mutual respect and trust.”

The union objected to the company’s request to postpone negotiations. It argued that using preparations for exercising the right to collective action as a reason to suspend dialogue is unfair and that the company is shifting the blame for the lack of substantive negotiations onto the union and its members.

Regarding management’s response, the union stated, “We view this as management shifting the blame onto the union and its members because it lacks the authority to engage in substantive negotiations,” adding, “Labor-management conflicts cannot be resolved by failing to conduct substantive negotiations and shifting the blame onto the union.”

Regarding this request to postpone negotiations, the union added, “Dialogue was suspended due to management’s unilateral breakdown of talks,” and emphasized, “We will proceed with preparations for the planned labor action without any delays.”