Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday as their strike enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 workers from 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 discussions between the union and Samsung last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is recorded as the largest in the technology company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by an AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold profit jump during the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that employees are not benefiting from these record profits with corresponding pay increases.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where advanced computer chips are produced, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workers.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.