Employees at Samsung 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.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The indefinite strike began on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for union members. Although the NSEU encompasses over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike, which is noted to be the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Despite this strike, Samsung is expecting a dramatic increase in second-quarter revenue, projected to rise over 1,450% year-on-year due to a surge in artificial intelligence demands. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases despite these substantial profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the most advanced computer chips globally are manufactured. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unionization and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
If successful, this strike could bolster the labor movement across South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.