The labor union of Samsung Biologics (207940.KS) is leaving the Samsung Group super-enterprise union.
The Samsung Biologics Sangsaeng Branch, which operates under the Samsung Group super-enterprise union, said an agenda item on "changing the union's organizational form," premised on withdrawal from the super-enterprise union, was approved in a vote of its members, according to industry sources Friday.
The Samsung Biologics Sangsaeng Branch held a vote of all members on changing the organizational form and revising regulations from the 24th through Friday. According to the tally, 2,479 of the 4,005 members eligible to vote took part in the vote on the organizational form change, with 2,392 of them, or 96.5%, voting in favor. The result satisfied both conditions for passage: a majority of members voting and at least two-thirds of voters in favor.
Earlier, observers inside and outside the labor community had pointed out that the super-enterprise union's cohesion had weakened following the settlement of negotiations by the Samsung Electronics union, and that joint action faced limits because affiliates had differing interests. The Samsung Biologics union began a partial strike involving about 60 people in late April, followed by a full strike from May 1 to 5 in which about 2,800 people participated. It has since been continuing a work-to-rule campaign.
With the approval of this agenda item, the Samsung Biologics union is expected to break away from the super-enterprise union, the existing solidarity framework among Samsung Group affiliates, and transition to an independent organizational form, continuing labor-management activities such as future wage and collective bargaining negotiations.
