Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not result in the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action is noted as the largest strike in the technology giant’s history.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue to surge by more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers are not experiencing corresponding pay increases despite the company’s record financial success.
Many of the strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiations with its workers.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower labor throughout the rest of South Korea,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in an interview with AFP.