Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking three weeks of their action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements their members seek.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it is unclear how many are involved in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is recognized as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, fueled by a surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not received corresponding wage increases despite these record-breaking profits.
Many participants in the strike are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a history of being hostile towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workers.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this effort, it will empower labor movements across South Korea,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, as reported by AFP.