Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, according to reports.
The demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements. Although the union consists of over 30,000 members, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most sophisticated computer chips globally.
Experts suggest that Samsung is known for its resistance to unionization and lacks experience in engaging with its workforce. A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, noted that if the workers succeed in their efforts, it could bolster labor movements throughout South Korea.