Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased pay held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protests against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
Workers from NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they were advocating for.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action is already recognized as the largest in the technology giant’s history.
Samsung is anticipating a remarkable increase of over 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, attributed to a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold surge in profits during the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are produced.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.