Samsung employees protesting for improved working conditions and increased wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace advancements its members are seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains uncertain. Nonetheless, this current strike is the most significant in the history of the technology company.
Samsung projects a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding wage increases despite the record profits.
Many strikers are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unsupportive of unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its own workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, as reported by AFP.