Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking three weeks of their protest against the tech giant.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus located in Yongin, South Korea.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung held on Friday.
The NSEU members initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements they are pursuing.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number currently on indefinite strike is unclear. Nonetheless, this action marks the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung anticipating a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to an AI surge, as well as reporting a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU has highlighted that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases amid these record financial outcomes.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung is traditionally resistant to union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo remarked that if Samsung workers achieve success in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.