Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea. This protest followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements sought by its members. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Despite Samsung’s projection of a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, attributed to a boom in artificial intelligence, employees have reported no corresponding increases in their wages. The company also announced a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, responsible for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial towards labor unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, a successful outcome for Samsung workers could empower the broader labor movement within South Korea.