Samsung Workers Fight for Change: What’s at Stake?

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Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking three weeks of their strike against the company.

Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) demonstrated and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.

This rally followed initial discussions between the union and Samsung regarding wage negotiations that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.

The NSEU declared an open-ended strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements sought by its members.

Although the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains uncertain how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing action is noted as the largest in the history of the technology firm.

Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year due to a surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that employees have not seen equivalent pay increases amidst these record profits.

Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundries, where some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips are manufactured, according to AFP.

Experts point out that Samsung has a challenging history with unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiations with its workforce.

Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.

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