Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a large rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike extends into 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 negotiation talks between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced 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 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this is recognized as the largest strike in the history of the technology firm.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting more than a 1,450% rise year-over-year, fueled by an AI surge. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record profits, the NSEU stated that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as noted by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” commented Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.