Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, according to reports.
This demonstration followed initial discussions regarding wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday.
The NSEU began an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements its members demanded.
While the union represents over 30,000 staff, the exact number currently participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung has projected a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely attributed to the surge in artificial intelligence developments. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these substantial financial gains, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, which manufacture some of the most sophisticated computer chips globally.
Experts also note that Samsung has a challenging history with unions and limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could significantly strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.