Court Hits the Brakes on Samsung Biologics' Second Strike: 3 Banned Processes Become 9

Three became nine

On Oct. 16 the Seoul High Court's Incheon bench (civil division 1) partly granted Samsung Biologics' appeal. Industrial action is now banned in all nine processes the company asked for.

The first-instance ruling in April covered only three: concentration and buffer exchange, drug-substance filling, and buffer preparation and supply. Flask culture, bioreactor culture, harvest, media preparation and supply, chromatography and virus filtration were added.

Why the court agreed

The bench pointed to the tangible and intangible damage a stoppage would cause, and to supply disruption for contract-manufactured drugs with a 100% domestic market share. Those processes have to run as usual during a strike.

What happens to the 26th

The union had said it would strike for three weeks from the 26th. It is now reviewing the start date and length, and a change is likely. No new date has been set.

The lunchtime rally on the 21st is cancelled and replaced by a livestream for members. The union says the ruling does not restrict strikes entirely. The company said it will "keep working toward a cooperative labor relationship."

The numbers on the table

According to Yonhap, the company offered a 6.2% base-pay rise plus a lump sum. The union is asking for 9.5%, a flat 3 million won and a bonus of 15% of operating profit.

After mediation failed on Mar. 23, the union held partial strikes in late April and a May 1-5 full strike staged as an annual-leave protest, then refused overtime and holiday work.

What to watch

The questions are whether the union sets a new strike date and whether talks reopen. Yonhap reported that whether the two sides reach a deal is the key variable through the end of October.