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Samsung Biologics' labor union will launch a second strike involving approximately 400 workers starting Friday. The union plans to begin with employees in indirect support roles, including quality control and logistics, before gradually expanding industrial action across production processes.

The Samsung Biologics Sangsaeng Labor Union announced Wednesday that about 400 union members would take part in the second strike beginning at midnight on Nov. 6. The union said it decided to take further strike action because management had not responded to its requests for negotiations.

The initial participants will include employees in the quality control (QC) testing department, quality assurance (QA) department, logistics department and indirect support roles within the production department. The union plans to gradually expand strikes across production processes while complying with the court's injunction concerning industrial action.

However, the union said it would remain open to negotiations with management during the strike. "We decided to take further strike action because the company has not responded to our requests for negotiations," a union official said. "The door to negotiations remains open even during the labor dispute."

Samsung Biologics and its labor union have been in a prolonged dispute over wage and collective bargaining negotiations. The union staged a partial strike in April, followed by the company's first full-scale strike since its establishment in May.

On Oct. 28, the two sides agreed on a bargaining schedule through informal discussions. However, disagreements subsequently resurfaced over the format of negotiations and the union's plans for additional strike action.

Meanwhile, a court ruling restricting industrial action at certain production facilities has also limited the scope of the union's strike. The union therefore plans to resume strike action primarily in roles not covered by the injunction, gradually expand participation and pressure management to return to the negotiating table.

                                                                                                             Bae Da-hyun