Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher salaries organized a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout failed to achieve the workplace enhancements its members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many have taken part in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this action is noted as the largest in the technology giant’s history.
Samsung anticipates a remarkable increase in second-quarter revenue, projecting a year-over-year rise of more than 1,450% driven by an AI surge. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU asserts that employees have not experienced corresponding pay raises amidst these record earnings.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and has little experience in negotiations 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 across South Korea.