Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher salaries gathered in large numbers for a rally in South Korea on Monday, continuing their protest into the third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched along the Giheung campus in Yongin, as indicated by reports. This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung last Friday.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. The union represents over 30,000 employees, although the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this current strike marks the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a staggering increase in second-quarter revenue, projected to rise more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU asserts that workers have not benefitted from these record profits through increased wages.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts note that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.