Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, continuing their protest against the company into its 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, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation talks held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements its members are advocating for.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, the current strike is the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% rise in its 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 argues that workers have not experienced corresponding wage increases despite these record financial results.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, as noted by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower the broader labor movement throughout South Korea.