Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and better wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest.
Approximately 1,200 members from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, taking to the streets of the Giheung campus in Yongin. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations held on Friday between the union and Samsung.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not result in the desired workplace improvements. Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projected to rise over 1,450% year-over-year due to a surge in AI technology, and a tenfold increase in profits in the first quarter of 2024, workers have reported no corresponding wage hikes, according to the NSEU.
Many of the striking employees work at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are produced. Samsung is known for its opposition to unions and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Experts suggest that if Samsung workers succeed in their demands, it could have a positive ripple effect on the labor movement across South Korea, as highlighted by Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.