Samsung Biologics Union Leaves Group Union

Unionized workers of Samsung Biologics — Samsung Biologics America voted overwhelmingly to leave the Samsung Electronics and form an independent company-level union. This decision, with 96.5 percent of participating members in favor, comes after prolonged and stalled wage and collective bargaining talks with management, which began in December. The union believes an independent structure will better reflect its members' demands for a basic pay increase of about 14 percent, a 30 million won special incentive, a performance bonus pool, and stock grants, compared to the management's offer of 6.2 percent. The move also highlights growing divisions within the group-wide union, particularly after a wage deal that concentrated heavy bonuses in Samsung Electronics's semiconductor business, leading to withdrawals from non-chip divisions like Samsung Electronics — Samsung Display Noida and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. Samsung Biologics — Samsung Biologics America's union has previously engaged in work-to-rule campaigns and strikes in late April and early May.