Employees of Samsung Electronics are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their action.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This mobilization follows recent initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that occurred on Friday, as noted by Bloomberg.
NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is recognized as the largest in the technology company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a significant surge in second-quarter revenue, forecasting an increase of over 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, NSEU claims that employees have not seen equivalent increases in their pay despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundries, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts have pointed out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.