Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased pay gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest against the company into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
The strike follows initial wage negotiations that took place between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU members 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, the exact number involved in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is being recognized as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates an increase in second-quarter revenue surpassing 1,450% year-over-year, primarily due to a boom in artificial intelligence. Furthermore, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the initial three months of 2024. Despite these significant financial gains, the NSEU stated that workers have not seen any corresponding rise in their wages.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being antagonistic toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in comments to AFP.