Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased wages demonstrated in a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday, as noted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU workers initially declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union claims representation for over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is being described as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue—projected to increase by more than 1,450% year-over-year—driven by an artificial intelligence boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not benefited from pay increases despite these remarkable financial outcomes.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where cutting-edge computer chips are manufactured, according to AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being antagonistic towards unions and lacks experience in engaging in negotiations with its workforce.
“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 an interview with AFP.