A “no-union” policy long associated with Celltrion founder and Chairman Seo Jung-jin has been broken after workers formed a union for the first time in the company’s 25-year history. The union has prioritized reforms to the performance-bonus system and improvements to employee benefits, and the company says it respects the union’s formation.
On June 1, industry sources said Unitrion, the Celltrion branch of the National Chemical–Fiber–Food Industry Union affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was launched. In its founding declaration, the union declared, “The era of fake communication is over,” and demanded “transparent compensation and respect commensurate with our dedication.”
The union’s main demands include transparent criteria for calculating excess-profit performance bonuses (PS) and the establishment of a negotiation-centered wage-setting system. It argues that management’s promise of “treatment exceeding competitors” has effectively become formulaic bonus payments benchmarked against other firms, and it is calling for clear PS calculation rules.
The union also called for hiring permanent staff to meet Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, ending rotating shifts, and improving welfare and work arrangements.
Celltrion said it respects the union’s formation. A company spokesperson said, “We respect the right to organize as guaranteed by law, and if related procedures move forward, we will respond in good faith in accordance with legal and institutional requirements.” The spokesperson added that the company will work to maintain stable operations and sustain growth through employee communication and responsible management.
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