Employees at Samsung are continuing their strike for better working conditions and improved pay, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protests.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This rally followed initial wage negotiations that took place on Friday between the union and the company.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not lead to the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this is the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s anticipation of a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, workers are not seeing corresponding pay raises. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first three months of 2024. Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces highly advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unionization and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, the success of Samsung workers in their current efforts could have a significant impact on labor movements across South Korea.