Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their action for a third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU called for an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not lead to the workplace improvements its members are seeking. Although the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike, which has become the largest strike in the company’s history.
Samsung has reported that its second-quarter revenue is projected to increase by over 1,450% year-on-year, fueled by an AI boom, alongside a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, NSEU representatives argue that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite these record earnings.
Many strikers are involved in Samsung’s foundries, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts note that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, remarked that if Samsung workers achieve success in their efforts, it could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.