Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher 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.
The NSEU initially announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired gains for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains uncertain; nonetheless, this current strike is the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projections of over a 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue due to the AI boom and a ten-fold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, workers argue they have not seen corresponding wage increases. Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower the broader labor movement across South Korea.