Samsung Biologics(207940) Labor and management held their first post-mediation session on the 8th at the Incheon Regional Labor Relations Commission in Michuhol District, Incheon, but failed to reach a conclusion. This is a procedure to conduct mediation again after labor-management mediation breaks down and the union secures the right to strike. Labor and management plan to hold a second post-mediation session on the 15th.
Labor and management conducted post-mediation from about 2 p.m. to about 4 p.m. that day. Talks were reportedly held on the wage collective agreement. The union is said to have basically proposed a 6.5% wage increase plus 3 million won and a 3% performance increase based on individual evaluations. If the wage increase rate is lower than this, a wage gap with competitors could arise, it said. Management was reportedly seeking a 4.1% wage increase and a 2.1% performance increase.
Earlier, Samsung Biologics' union held the first general strike in its history in May and carried out collective wage talks. Labor and management applied for post-mediation in mid last month with both sides' consent. Because post-mediation has no processing deadline, no conclusion was reached today. In the session, a remark was reportedly made that "we must work with trust, respect, and sincerity."
If a plan is produced through future post-mediation, it will carry an effect similar to a collective agreement. If labor and management agree to the post-mediation plan, it will be tantamount to settling the collective wage talks. The union's position is that if post-mediation collapses and the gap with management ultimately cannot be narrowed, it is leaving open the possibility of resuming collective action.