Employees at Samsung are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday. This marks the third week of their protests against the tech giant.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus located in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration took place following initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The strike, which began on July 8, was initiated after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements for the union’s members. While the NSEU represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have committed to the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this current strike is being recognized as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates an impressive increase in second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year, significantly due to advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, union representatives assert that employees have not seen corresponding raises despite these record financial results.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips. Experts point out that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, the success of Samsung workers in this endeavor could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.