Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased salaries held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered to march through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired outcomes for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains uncertain how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. However, this protest is noted to be the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Despite Samsung’s expectation of a more than 1,450% rise in second-quarter revenue due to an AI boom and a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024, NSEU has stated that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many of the strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile to unions and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.