Employees at Samsung have been protesting for improved working conditions and increased pay, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday as their strike enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally follows the initial wage negotiation discussions that occurred between the union and Samsung on Friday, as highlighted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements that members were seeking.
Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unspecified. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike marks the largest labor action in the history of the tech giant.
Samsung anticipates a staggering increase of more than 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, primarily driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU asserts that workers have not seen any corresponding increases in their wages despite these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they are responsible for manufacturing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unionization and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could greatly empower labor movements across South Korea.