Workers from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) rallied in South Korea on Monday as their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages enters its third week. Approximately 1,200 employees marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. However, this strike marks the largest in the history of Samsung.
Samsung projects its second-quarter revenue to soar by over 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI surge, and reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these significant financial gains, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for manufacturing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Industry experts note that Samsung has a challenging reputation regarding union relations and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Experts suggest that if Samsung workers succeed in their current efforts, it could strengthen the overall labor movement in South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.