Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased pay gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their protest against the company extends into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed preliminary wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday.
The NSEU workers commenced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements their members seek. Although the union represents over 30,000 staff members, the exact number participating in the ongoing indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung projects a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, expecting it to rise more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely driven by advancements in AI technology. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record-breaking financial results.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, manufacturing some of the most sophisticated computer chips globally. Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and has minimal experience negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, the success of Samsung workers in their current efforts could serve to empower labor movements across South Korea.