Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This mobilization followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that occurred on Friday.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements they sought. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike, which is already noted as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a dramatic rise in its second-quarter revenue due to an AI boom, with projections suggesting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, and it reported a tenfold surge in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases despite these impressive financial results.
A significant number of strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured. Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being resistant to union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers achieve success in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.