Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their action into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements its members are advocating for.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it’s unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the technology giant’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% rise in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite the company’s record earnings.
Many of the striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as reported by AFP.
Expert opinions suggest that Samsung has historically been hostile towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with workers.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in comments reported by AFP.