Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking their protest as it extends into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching across the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows the initial wage negotiation talks held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU members declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous attempts to secure workplace improvements did not succeed.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear; however, this strike is the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue to surge more than 1,450% year-over-year due to a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first three months of 2024. Nevertheless, NSEU argues that workers are not benefitting from these record profits through wage increases.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the most advanced computer chips globally are manufactured, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to union activities and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“Weeks of struggle for Samsung employees could strengthen labor movements throughout South Korea,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in comments to AFP.