Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements they sought. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, driven largely by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold surge in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that employees are not seeing corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.