Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU members initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements they seek.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number involved in the indefinite strike is unclear. Nonetheless, this action stands as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung is projected to experience a substantial increase in second-quarter revenue, exceeding 1,450% year-over-year, largely due to the AI boom. The firm also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that workers are not receiving a share of these financial gains.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial towards unions and lacks experience in engaging in negotiations with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.