Employees at Samsung have been striking for improved working conditions and higher wages, and they held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest.
Approximately 1,200 members from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching along the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU began an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to yield the workplace improvements its members are advocating for. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is noted to be the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung is anticipating a substantial increase in its second-quarter revenue, projected to rise more than 1,450% year-over-year due to a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers are not experiencing corresponding pay increases despite these record financial results.
A significant number of striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, as mentioned by AFP.
Experts suggest that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their current efforts, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.