Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest into the third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) rallied and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration occurred following initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung held on Friday.
The union, which represents over 30,000 employees, declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements. While it remains unclear how many members are actively participating in the indefinite strike, this action is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projection of a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue attributed to an AI boom, along with a tenfold profit surge in the first quarter of 2024, NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding increases in their pay.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if Samsung workers achieve success in their strike, it could inspire and empower labor movements across South Korea.