Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows 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 secure the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% year-on-year increase in its second-quarter revenue, driven by a surge in AI applications. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. Despite these record returns, the NSEU has highlighted that workers have not seen corresponding raises in pay.
Many of the striking employees work in Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as noted by AFP.
Experts have indicated that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.