Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a large 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 along the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
Workers of the NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union claims to represent over 30,000 employees, the exact number of participants in the indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this action is noted as the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s impressive financial performance, including an expected revenue increase of over 1,450% year-over-year attributed to the surge in AI technology and a tenfold profit rise in the first quarter of 2024, NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most sophisticated computer chips globally, as stated by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung is known for its reluctance to cooperate with unions and lacks experience in negotiating with employees. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo remarked that if Samsung workers are successful, it could strengthen labor movements throughout South Korea.