Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased pay organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest against the company into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place on the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This rally followed recent wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier attempt to secure workplace improvements did not succeed. Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are involved in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung Electronics projecting a staggering 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue due to an AI boom, alongside a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU has expressed concerns that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases reflecting these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, known for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to union activity and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.