Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased pay held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. The demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions that took place between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements for its members. While the union comprises over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are involved in the indefinite strike. This ongoing action is now recognized as the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung projecting a second-quarter revenue increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by a surge in artificial intelligence demand, workers contend they have not seen corresponding wage increases, even as the company reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, known for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. If the workers succeed in their current efforts, it could potentially empower the broader labor movement in South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.