Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased 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 demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by news outlets. This rally follows initial wage negotiation talks that took place between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the intended workplace improvements for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number actively participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this action is recorded as the largest strike in the technology giant’s history.
Despite Samsung projecting an astounding revenue increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year due to an artificial intelligence surge, along with a tenfold profit rise in the first quarter of 2024, NSEU claims that employees have not reaped the benefits of these financial successes through wage increases.
A significant portion of the striking workforce is employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the most advanced computer chips globally are manufactured. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unsupportive of union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo remarked that if Samsung workers achieve success in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across the rest of South Korea.