Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and better wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU members initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements they were advocating for.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number of those currently on an indefinite strike is unclear. However, this 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 due to a surge in AI-related business. The company also reported a significant tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. Despite these financial successes, the NSEU asserts that workers have not experienced corresponding pay raises.
A large portion of the striking workforce is employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, as stated by AFP.
Experts have noted that Samsung has a reputation for being antagonistic toward unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their endeavors, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.