Samsung employees seeking better working conditions and higher wages organized 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, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number currently on indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is being considered the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, with projections indicating a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year, attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence. 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 increases in their pay despite these record earnings.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies specialist at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.