Samsung employees are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, holding a significant rally in South Korea on Monday as their protest enters its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions that took place between the union and the company on Friday.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after earlier efforts for workplace improvements did not achieve the desired outcomes. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projection of an over 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, NSEU asserts that workers have not seen corresponding salary increases, even as the company reported a tenfold profit surge in the first quarter of 2024.
Many striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they contribute to the production of some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Additionally, experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiations with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement throughout South Korea.