Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased pay gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, as their protest against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they are advocating for. Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike, which is noted as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung is anticipating a significant increase of over 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that workers have not benefited from these record-high earnings.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured. Furthermore, experts indicate that Samsung has a challenging relationship with unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiations with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could embolden labor movements across South Korea.