Employees of Samsung Electronics protested for improved working conditions and higher wages during a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike action. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin.
This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation talks held between the union and Samsung last Friday. The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous strike attempt did not yield the desired workplace improvements.
While the NSEU represents more than 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is the largest in Samsung’s history.
The company has projected a staggering increase of over 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI technology. Samsung also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has indicated that workers have not seen any upgrade in their pay despite these record earnings.
Many striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts note that Samsung has historically been resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo commented that if Samsung workers achieve their aims, it could significantly strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.