Samsung Biologics Labor and Management Fail to Reach Agreement on May 8... "Talks to Continue Without Information Leaks"

Differences Remain Over Wages and HR Issues

"Although No Agreement Was Reached, Confidential Talks Will Continue"

The labor and management of Samsung Biologics, which have been in conflict over wage increases and improvements to the HR system, held a three-party meeting on May 8, 2026, with the participation of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. However, they failed to reach a final agreement. Nevertheless, both sides agreed to keep future negotiations strictly confidential and to continue their dialogue.

According to the Samsung Biologics Partnership Branch of the Samsung Group's super-enterprise labor union, a tripartite meeting between labor, management, and government took place that afternoon at the Samsung Biologics Songdo plant in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, under the supervision of the Central Regional Employment and Labor Office. The union stated that while no specific agenda items were produced after the meeting, it decided to continue discussions, considering that the Ministry of Labor is mediating and that Samsung Electronics has also entered post-adjustment procedures. Both labor and management accepted the ministry's recommendation to keep the talks confidential. The management also commented, "Although no agreement was reached during the meeting, we have decided to continue discussions between labor and management," adding, "Until a tentative agreement is reached, the contents of the negotiations will remain undisclosed."

Originally, labor and management were scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting between representatives on May 6, but the company decided it was difficult to proceed after the union unilaterally disclosed the content and recording of a private call on May 5, citing a breach of trust. In response, the union criticized the management's decision to cancel the meeting as a delaying tactic, stating that it had merely explained to its members that management's position had not changed.

Separate from the resumption of talks, legal disputes between the two sides continue. Before the meeting, management filed criminal complaints with the Incheon Yeonsu Police Station against three union executives, including branch head Park Jaeseong, and three on-site union members, on charges such as obstruction of business. The company cited the reason that the union pushed ahead with the strike despite the court's restriction on industrial action for three final processes related to preventing spoilage and contamination. On May 4, during the general strike, the company also filed a complaint against one union member, claiming that union members pressured workers to work and encouraged them to leave early. The union countered that management's complaints were intended to create psychological pressure and that excessive litigation only highlights instability to external parties and causes customer concern. The union maintains that it carried out only the work permitted by the court, while management argues that the individuals in question failed to fulfill their duty to report to work.

The strike has also resulted in production disruptions. The manufacture of some anticancer drugs and HIV treatments has been halted, and the company estimates the resulting losses to be as much as 150 billion won.

The central issues between the two sides are wage compensation and the HR system. The union is demanding a 30 million won bonus per person, an average wage increase of 14%, a 20% share of operating profit as performance bonuses, and the introduction of a clause requiring prior union consent on key management decisions. In contrast, management has drawn a clear line, stating that personnel and management rights are exclusive prerogatives, and has proposed a 6.2% wage increase and a lump-sum bonus of 6 million won.

Following a partial strike last month, about 2,800 union members participated in a general strike from May 1 to 5, taking annual leave on weekdays and refusing to work on holidays. Since returning to work on May 6, the union has continued an indefinite compliance campaign, refusing overtime and holiday work, and has left open the possibility of a second strike. Although both sides remain at odds, resorting to legal action, their decision to continue confidential talks raises attention as to whether a compromise can be reached in future negotiations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.