Samsung employees advocating for better working conditions and increased pay held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike 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, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration took place following initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared 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, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is recognized as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a staggering increase of more than 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely driven by a surge in AI-related demand. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises despite these record profits.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to union activities and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this initiative, it will empower the broader labor movement in South Korea,” remarked Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, to AFP.