Samsung Biologics labor-management talks remain stuck at the scheduling stage without entering substantive discussions despite mediation by the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL). The two sides reportedly exchanged views only on how to conduct future talks and failed to find common ground.
According to the industry and the Samsung Biologics union on the 22nd, during a tripartite dialogue held that afternoon under the mediation of the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) Jungbu District Office, labor and management focused their discussion on how to run future negotiations and coordinate schedules, rather than on core agenda items such as wages and a collective agreement.
However, there was reportedly no significant progress at the actual bargaining table.
Accordingly, the negotiation schedule has been delegated to the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) Jungbu District Office. Labor and management have reportedly left open the option of continuing talks on both weekdays and weekends.
Earlier, both sides submitted revised proposals to the labor ministry, but the gap in positions was still said to be wide.
The union is demanding a 14.3% increase in base pay plus a flat increase of 3.5 million won and a settlement payment of 30 million won per person, and has called for reflecting 20% of operating profit as the funding source for the overachievement performance bonus (OPI).
The company, on the other hand, is said to have judged that applying this would raise real wages for new hires by 21.3%, and proposed a 6.2% wage increase and a one-time payment of 6 million won.
The Samsung Bio union said, "Talks could resume as early as tomorrow, but we have not yet received a confirmed schedule."
A Samsung Biologics official said, "The company will continue to communicate with the union and the government and do its best to complete the negotiations."