Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the ongoing protest against the company as it enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) held a rally and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union comprises over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this current strike represents the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely attributed to a boom in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. Despite these record returns, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with employees.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a specialist in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if the Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower other labor movements across South Korea.