Labor union protests against Lundbeck Korea for 50 days

Dispute intensifies, negotiation hindered

Labor union picketing in front of Lundbeck Korea office on June 8

The conflict is deepening between Lunbeck Korea and employees regarding a recent layoff.

 

On June 8, the Lunbeck Korea Chapter of Korea Democratic Pharmaceutical Union protested in front of the company’s head office in Songpa-gu, Seoul.

 

Denouncing the unfair labor practice by the company management, the labor union has been picketing outside the building during commuting and lunch time for 50 days.

 

And 10 of the Korea Democratic Pharmaceutical Union associates were present at the site as well.

 

Lundbeck Korea Labor Union is a negotiating body established in July last year.

 

The labor union joined the umbrella union as a new chapter, because the employees felt insecure in their job when the company unilaterally changed the regulation on employees in between job assignments.

 

Lundbeck Korea Labor Unions’ long fight started from two months ago.

 

According to Korea Democratic Pharmaceutical Union, a former employee at the company has received a letter of dismissal on Apr.

 

16.

 

Three days after convening the disciplinary committee, the former employee has been informed of the dismissal and the decision was publicly opened as a ‘personnel order’ via company email.

 

According to the employment regulation, the affected employee was supposed to be able to request for an appeal and practice the right to receive reassessment.

 

But the labor union argues the company officially announcing the dismissal even before the appeal is an unfair labor practice.

 

Head of Lundbeck Korea Chapter Lee Kyung-Soo said, “When firing our member of the union, the management did not inform the union.

 

The company is clearly trying to oppress the labor union,” and “many of us employees are feeling oppressed and intimidated by the company disregarding the basic right of defense and unjustly handling the dismissal.” The labor union is demanding the company to sincerely apologize to the employees.

 

At the negotiation table a month ago, apparently, the union representatives stated, “The protest would be halted without any other condition, if the company acknowledges its fault.” The union plans to take the justification of the disciplinary action to Regional Labor Relations Commission and National Labor Relations Commission.

 

Reportedly, the labor union officials are working on the affected former employee’s relief application with the Regional Labor Relations Commission and the former employee is also individually following up with a legal procedure.

 

The labor union’s picketing was seemingly subsiding when it was temporarily suspended last month.

 

But it resumed in five days and today marks the 50th day.

 

The union claims their fight against the company resumed as the company did not deliver the promise.

 

Lee reproached, “The HR sent out another email elaborating the incident, but it was not an apology but it was deceiving the labor union and employees.

 

The management has notified the union the negotiation would not be conducted unless the outside office protest is ended.

 

And they have not even started salary and employee benefit negotiation for 2020, yet.” However, the company management says otherwise.

 

The reason behind the employee dismissal cannot be disclosed, but they claim the procedure was done by the book.

 

The employee was not eligible to join the union, and it was irrelevant to the labor union suppression as the decision was made after a long discussion with the headquarters.

 

A Lundbeck Korea insider explained, “A personnel order is applicable after the first decision is made by the disciplinary committee.

 

The management thought the news of dismissal had to be disclosed as soon as possible to prevent a gap in work flow.” The insider added, “As it was an unprecedented personnel decision made ever since the Lundbeck Korea was established, we understand the confused sentiment of the employees.

 

But their claim that the company is oppressing the employees is unacceptable,” and “unless the union stops the protest, the negotiation would not be conducted properly.”