Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protests into the third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU members initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements they were seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is noted to be the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, with projections suggesting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding raises despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts point out that Samsung has a history of being uncooperative with unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workers. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a specialist in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that a successful strike by Samsung employees could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.