Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their protest enters its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members are advocating for.
While the union encompasses over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung has projected a staggering increase in its second-quarter revenue by over 1,450% year-on-year, attributed to a surge in AI-related demand. It also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record profits, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their pay.
Many striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unionization and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce. A professor of Korean studies remarked that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.