Employees at Samsung are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday. This marks the third week of their protest.
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 rally follows initial wage negotiation discussions that occurred on Friday between the union and Samsung, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not yield the workplace improvements its members are seeking. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. Nonetheless, this current strike has become the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung has forecast a staggering increase in second-quarter revenue, anticipating more than a 1,450% rise year-over-year due to an AI surge. Additionally, the company reported that profits for the first quarter of 2024 jumped tenfold. Despite these impressive financial gains, the NSEU has stated that employees have not seen corresponding increases in their pay.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, which manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as highlighted by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unaccommodating towards unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiations with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.