Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and better pay held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their action against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday.
The NSEU had announced an indefinite strike on July 8, after previous walkouts did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite expectations of a significant rise in revenue—over 1,450% year-over-year due to a boom in artificial intelligence—and a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU contends that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Additionally, experts highlight Samsung’s challenging relationship with labor unions, noting the company’s limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen labor movements across South Korea.