Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages demonstrated in a large 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) gathered and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. Workers from the NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they were seeking.
Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action is being recognized as the largest strike in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a rise in its second-quarter revenue of more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven largely by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, according to the NSEU, workers have not received corresponding pay raises despite these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its employees. A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could inspire and empower labor movements throughout South Korea.