Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher salaries held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a march at the Giheung campus in Yongin. This rally follows initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements. Although the union has over 30,000 members, it remains unclear how many are participating in the ongoing indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this has become the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a substantial rise in second-quarter revenue, expecting an increase of over 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a ten-fold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has stated that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many of the striking employees are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being antagonistic towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could inspire and empower the broader labor movement across South Korea.