Celltrion (068270) has launched a labor union for the first time since its founding. The Korean Chemical, Textile and Food Workers' Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) announced Wednesday that the "Celltrion Branch (Unitrion)," comprising Celltrion employees, had been officially established.
In its launch declaration, the Celltrion union stated, "Unlike other major conglomerates such as Samsung and Hyundai, we currently do not have a strong in-house parent union to protect workers." The union added, "Celltrion workers have joined to establish a new labor union to recover the legitimate rights of Celltrion workers and create a workplace where common sense prevails."
Regarding the decision to launch under the KCTU umbrella, the union said the move was aimed at securing bargaining power with the company and laying a stable foundation for union operations. "This is to correct the tilted playing field of communication and establish a reasonable and strong foundation so that the company can advance in a manner befitting its status as a 'first mover,'" the union said.
The union's key demands include: establishing transparent criteria for calculating profit sharing (PS) bonuses and a wage determination system centered on negotiations; expanding regular personnel and abolishing rotational work in line with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards; guaranteeing work autonomy without discrimination between departments and expanding welfare benefits; and improving an organizational culture centered on unilateral directives and control.
Meanwhile, Celltrion said regarding the union's establishment, "We respect the rights guaranteed by law and plan to faithfully respond in accordance with laws and systems if related procedures proceed in the future." The company added, "We will do our best to communicate with employees and conduct responsible management to ensure there is no disruption to the company's operational stability and continued growth."
