Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held 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) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg. The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it is unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this action is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite expectations from Samsung for a substantial increase in second-quarter revenue—projected to rise by more than 1,450% year-over-year largely due to an AI boom—the NSEU claims that employees have not received pay raises commensurate with the company’s record profits, which reportedly saw a tenfold increase in the first quarter of 2024.
Many of the workers involved in the strike are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts suggest that Samsung has a history of being unwelcoming 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 the Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.