Zuellig Pharma union reports company’s abusive practice

Democratic Pharmaceutical Union reports the abusive labor practice to Western Seoul District Office of MOEL

Chapter chief removed from position after salary negotiation fell through, the union is on strike

The Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea Chapter is protesting in front of the president’s residence (Source: Korea Democratic Pharmaceutical Union)

The management and labor union dispute in Zuellig Pharma Korea’s subsidiary Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea seems to be intensifying fast.

 

According to the pharmaceutical industry sources on Nov.

 

3, Korea Democratic Pharmaceutical Union has recently reported Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea management for their unfair labor practices on three members of the company’s labor union to the Western Seoul District Office of Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL).

 

The Democratic Union accused the management assigned the three labor union members on an in-between job waiting list, when the salary negotiation between the management and the labor union did not follow through.

 

The Democratic Union stated Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea and the Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea Labor Union Chapter had eight sessions of salary negotiation for 2020, but they could not reach an agreement.

 

The union claims the management assigned Chief Yang Hee-Jin of the Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea Chapter on an employment waiting list on Oct.

 

15, when the Chapter requested the Seoul Labor Relations Commission to arbitrate the negotiation and showed possibility of a strike.

 

The Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea Chapter insider noted, “When the negotiation fell through and the arbitration began immediately, the Chapter chief was suddenly removed from the previous position.

 

The management has not disclosed a detailed reason, other than a report of workplace bullying.” The Democratic Labor Union Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea Chapter has earned the right to strike on Oct 26, as the Seoul Labor Relations Commission decided to halt the arbitration.

 

However, the company management again assigned a director and a member of the Chapter on the waiting list.

 

In just about two weeks, three members of the labor union were removed from their original positions.

 

Legal Director General Cho Guk-Hyun of the Democratic Pharmaceutical Union said, “The Article 97 of the negotiated agreement signed by both the company and the Union in last May states the Union and the management must jointly form an investigation council and conduct an audit on the workplace bullying.

 

Any penalty or personnel transfer made during the period of strike is a violation of the Paragraph 2 of the Article 117.” The director general pointed out the company management was abusing the Article 76-2 of the Labor Standard Act on workplace bullying ban to oppress the labor union.

 

Regarding the issue, the company management has not issued any official statement.

 

Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea is a global marketing agency that provides healthcare communication service as a subsidiary of Zuellig Pharma.

 

Its labor union, formed in March last year, joined the Korea Democratic Pharmaceutical Union as a new chapter.

 

Beyond the legal dispute, the labor union is also taking an organized action.

 

In the afternoon of Oct.

 

30, all members of the Chapter went on a strike, which would continue with the second strike from Nov.

 

2 through 13.

 

From the morning of Nov.

 

3, the union member began protesting in front of the residence of Zuellig Pharma Korea President Erwan Vilfeu, who is technically overseeing Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea as well.

 

An insider from the Zuellig Pharma Solutions Service Korea Chapter stated, “Backed by a major law firm, the management is overtly oppressing the labor union with abnormal procedure that violates the Labor Relations Act and the agreement.

 

Their illegal practice would be uncovered soon.

 

We would fight until the laborers working normally and earnestly are rightfully recognized by the company.”