Employees of Samsung are currently on strike, seeking improved working conditions and better wages, as they held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday. This demonstration marks the third week of their action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by various news outlets.
The rally occurred following initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to reports.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not result in the desired workplace improvements. Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are involved in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projection of a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by an AI surge, and a reported tenfold profit increase in the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims that employees are not receiving corresponding pay raises.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being antagonistic towards unions and lacks significant experience in labor negotiations. A professor of Korean studies noted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could inspire a broader movement among South Korea’s workforce.