The labor union of Samsung Biologics (207940.KS) is pushing to withdraw from the Samsung Group super-enterprise union. The move comes from a judgment that the joint response system, formed centered on the Samsung Electronics (005930.KS) union, failed to deliver the bargaining power it had expected. If the proposal passes at a union members' general meeting, the Samsung Biologics union will shift to an independent path.
According to industry sources Tuesday, the Samsung Biologics union plans to put the proposal to withdraw from the Samsung Group super-enterprise union on the agenda at a members' general meeting scheduled for the 16th to 18th. The proposal will be approved if more than two-thirds of all union members participate in the vote and a majority votes in favor.
The Samsung Group super-enterprise union is a solidarity organization in which the unions of affiliates such as Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and Samsung Biologics participate. The Samsung Biologics union had expected to raise its bargaining power through group-level joint responses, but its position is that the actual results fell short of expectations.
Park Jae-sung, head of the Samsung Biologics Sangsaeng chapter of the Samsung Group super-enterprise union, explained in a phone call with the Seoul Economic Daily, "At first, we expected that each chapter could serve as a pillar to push through common group-level agenda items." He added, "But in reality, it did not work that way."
The union particularly believes that the rationale for the super-enterprise union weakened after the Samsung Electronics union reached a mid-process settlement during its wage and collective bargaining negotiations. Park said, "We obtained neither common agenda items nor any agenda items specific to our company," adding, "Rather, we came to judge that our bargaining power was weakening."
However, some assessments hold that it remains uncertain whether withdrawing from the super-enterprise union will lead to a genuine strengthening of bargaining power. An industry official analyzed, "Moving together as a large organization has aspects that help in negotiations with the company, and there are also effects of information sharing and consultation among affiliate unions." He added, "But since each company's interests differ, there seem to have been aspects that made it difficult to maintain a united front."
The union drew a line, saying that the withdrawal does not mean a shift to a hardline stance. Park stressed, "Rather than becoming more hardline, it means we will not create a structure in which we are sacrificed because of external circumstances," adding, "We will sufficiently gather the opinions of union members and decide our future direction."
