Samsung employees striking for better working conditions and increased wages gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest 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, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press. This demonstration took place following initial wage negotiation talks held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield satisfactory workplace improvements for its members. While the union claims to represent over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is being recognized as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Despite Samsung projecting a significant increase in revenue—anticipated to rise more than 1,450% year-over-year due to a boom in AI technology, along with a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024—union representatives mention that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages. Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundries, where advanced computer chips are manufactured.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating 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 throughout South Korea.