Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike for a third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations held between the union and Samsung on Friday. The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union claims to represent more than 30,000 employees, the exact number of those participating in the indefinite strike remains unspecified. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung projecting a revenue increase of over 1,450% year-over-year due to advancements in artificial intelligence, and reporting a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024, workers argue that their salaries have not reflected these substantial earnings.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts suggest that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if the Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could inspire a broader labor movement across South Korea.