Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a large 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) gathered and marched around the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, according to reports. This rally follows initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements its members were seeking. Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is being described as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a revenue increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by a surge in artificial intelligence technology. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not received pay raises in light of these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts note that Samsung has a difficult history with unions and lacks 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 cause, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.