Samsung BioLogics Requests Postponement of Second Post-Mediation Session... Pre-Chuseok Agreement at Risk

Intensive Bargaining Scheduled for September 10-11 Also Canceled
Conflict Reignites After Union Releases Meeting Minutes

Samsung BioLogics has requested a postponement of the second post-mediation session, which was originally scheduled for September 15. With the company also cancelling intensive negotiations that were aimed at reaching a wage and collective bargaining agreement before the Chuseok holiday, there is a growing possibility that the protracted labor-management talks will face renewed difficulties.

According to the industry on September 10, Samsung BioLogics recently sent an official letter to the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission requesting a rescheduling of the second post-mediation session.

Employees are moving at the Samsung BioLogics factory in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. Photo by Yonhap News

The labor and management at Samsung BioLogics had completed the first post-mediation session on September 8, then planned to hold two days of intensive bargaining on September 10 and 11, followed by the second post-mediation session on September 15. However, with the company's postponement request, it was reported that the intensive negotiations scheduled to begin this day have also been canceled.

The company's request to reschedule came after the labor union released the contents of the first post-mediation meeting to the public and criticized the company's approach to negotiations. The union stated that since it submitted a revised proposal in June, the company has not presented any concrete proposals, and published meeting minutes and statements to employees and the media claiming the company was not approaching the negotiations in good faith.

Samsung BioLogics commented, "The company sincerely sought to participate in the negotiations until the end, but we deeply regret that we have no choice but to respond to the union's ongoing breach of agreements and distorted criticism," adding, "We urge the labor union to restore at least a minimum level of responsibility and trust as a negotiating partner and to return to genuine dialogue."

This postponement has also created new variables for the originally planned timeline of reaching an agreement before Chuseok. Initially, during the first post-mediation session, labor and management agreed to review the 44 key articles of the collective agreement through intensive negotiations and to discuss the results at the second mediation session. The mediation committee had previously set a target to conclude negotiations by no later than September 20 to 22, aiming for a wage and collective bargaining agreement before Chuseok.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.