Court Partially Grants Injunction to Prohibit Industrial Action at Samsung BioLogics

The court has put a halt to the full-scale strike announced by the labor union of Samsung BioLogics.

A view of Samsung Biologics Plant 4 in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon. Samsung Biologics

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On April 23, the 21st Civil Division of the Incheon District Court partially accepted Samsung BioLogics’ injunction request to prohibit industrial action by its company-affiliated labor union. The court stated, "During the strike period, the union must not instruct or distribute guidelines to union members or third parties to halt any part of the work that prevents the deterioration or spoilage of thawed cell lines," and added, "The union must not obstruct employees from engaging in these tasks by exerting force or issuing threats."

According to the court's decision, strikes are prohibited for three specific processes: concentration and buffer exchange, bulk solution charging, and related buffer production and supply. However, the injunction request was dismissed for other processes such as culturing and purification.

Samsung BioLogics stated, "We have received the court’s decision and confirmed that it was partially accepted," adding, "We have immediately filed an appeal regarding the parts that were not accepted."

Previously, in last month's strike vote, 95.52% of union members voted in favor, signaling a planned strike. If management and the union fail to reach an agreement, the union plans to begin collective action on April 22 and launch a strike on May 1. The Samsung BioLogics labor union has 3,689 members, accounting for about 75% of the company’s total workforce.

The main issues at stake are wages and performance bonuses. The union is demanding a 14% increase in base salary and the payment of 20% of operating profit as an excess profit incentive (OPI). They are also reportedly requesting a 30 million won bonus per employee and allocation of company shares over three years. The management has proposed a total wage increase of 6.2%, a 200% bonus, and expansion of shift allowances. For OPI, the company is adhering to the group’s guidelines of either 10% of operating profit or 20% based on Economic Value Added (EVA).

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