A court sharply expanded the range of production processes where Samsung Biologics (207940) union members are barred from industrial action on the 16th, throwing into doubt a second strike the union had planned to begin on the 26th and run for three weeks. The union said it would appeal the decision, while signaling it may change the strike's start date — a sign that momentum behind the walkout is likely to weaken.
According to Samsung Biologics, the first civil division of the Incheon branch of the Seoul High Court broadened the scope of work that must continue as normal during industrial action, going beyond the lower court's ruling. In April, the first-instance court barred industrial action in three later-stage processes — concentration and buffer exchange, drug substance filling, and buffer manufacturing and supply. In the decision on the 16th, the court barred industrial action in all nine processes the company had sought to cover.
The nine processes are flask culture, bioreactor culture, harvest, media manufacturing and supply, chromatography, viral filtration, concentration and buffer exchange, drug substance filling, and buffer manufacturing and supply.
The union said it would immediately begin appeal proceedings. It also indicated it would overhaul its plan for a second full-scale strike, now just 10 days away, saying it would review its entire schedule for collective action, including the start date and duration.
In a statement, the union said of the walkout set for the 26th that "there is a high possibility of a change, but no specific revised schedule has been set." It added that "because members need to understand the ruling and the strategy must change, the rally planned for the 21st has been canceled and will be replaced by a live broadcast for internal communication within the union."
The union nevertheless held to its intention to press ahead with a strike. "A different strategy is needed, but a blanket restriction on striking has not been imposed, so the plan to carry out collective action remains unchanged," the union said. Ahead of the second strike, the union had been signing up members to take part. As of the morning of the 16th, 35% of members had said they would join, according to the union.
Labor and management have continued negotiations over wage increases and changes to the personnel system but have failed to narrow their differences, and the dispute has escalated into strikes and litigation.
Management has offered a 6.2% increase in base pay along with a lump-sum payment, while the union is demanding a 9.5% increase in base pay, a flat payment of 3 million won, and a performance bonus equal to 15% of operating profit. After mediation on wage and collective bargaining talks broke down on March 23, the union staged a partial strike in late April and launched a full strike from May 1 to 5 using mass annual leave. It has since continued a work-to-rule campaign, refusing overtime and holiday work.