Employees of Samsung are continuing their strike for better working conditions and increased wages, as they held a large rally in South Korea on Monday. This protest marks the third week of their actions against the tech giant.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. The rally occurred following initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many workers are participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this ongoing action is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of over 1,450% year-over-year driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the company reported a ten-fold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, union officials assert that workers have not seen any corresponding pay increases despite the company’s record financial performance.
Many of the striking employees work at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips. Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unsupportive of unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could bolster the labor movement across South Korea.