Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest into the 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 previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number of those participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is noted to be the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has stated that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their pay despite the company’s record earnings.
Many of the striking workers are based at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a longstanding reputation for being resistant to union activities and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.