Samsung Biologics Union Pushes to Leave Samsung Group-Wide Labor Organization

Samsung Biologics Co.’s labor union is pushing to withdraw from Samsung Group’s umbrella labor organization. The move suggests the group-wide union is losing its ability to hold affiliates together after the Samsung Electronics branch was hit by a rush of member departures following a wage and collective bargaining agreement. Attention is now turning to whether other affiliates will follow.

Park Jae-sung, head of the Samsung Biologics branch under the Samsung Group-wide union, said on June 8 that the union plans to hold a general meeting of members at the company auditorium from June 16 to June 18. A proposal to leave the Samsung Group-wide union will be a key agenda item.

Park said Samsung Electronics’ union broke away from the labor action in the middle of the dispute, leaving the Samsung Biologics union without momentum for its campaign. He added that the union had concluded it would be difficult to maintain the current structure unless the organization became more mature.

Samsung Biologics joined the Samsung Group-wide union when it was established in February 2024. The unions at the two companies had maintained a cooperative stance through mid-May, but the mood changed after Samsung Electronics wrapped up negotiations in May. The Samsung Electronics branch of the group-wide union lost its status as the majority union within two weeks of the deal as members left in protest over the outcome.

Samsung Biologics’ union is taking a cautious stance on a second strike. The union staged a full walkout from May 1 to May 5, and the company said it suffered losses of about $109 million as a result. Park said the union will hear members’ views at the upcoming meeting before deciding its next course of action. Some members also believe a second strike may not be necessary, he said, and that view will be fully taken into account.

Yang Byung-hoon, Hankyung.com reporter, hun@hankyung.com