Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike into its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8, as previous walkouts did not yield the workplace improvements sought by its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. However, this strike is reported to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a substantial increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year, primarily driven by an AI boom. The company also noted a ten-fold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record financial gains, the NSEU claims that workers are not benefiting from wage increases.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a poor track record in union negotiations, indicating a challenging environment for the affected workers.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, “If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor.”