Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents more than 30,000 employees, the exact number currently on the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is already being recognized as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung has projected a more than 1,450% increase in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has highlighted that workers are not experiencing corresponding wage increases despite these record financial results.
Many participants in the strike are employed in Samsung’s foundries, which are responsible for manufacturing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being antagonistic towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it could empower labor across the rest of South Korea,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.