Employees at Samsung who are striking for improved working conditions and increased wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial discussions held on Friday between the union and Samsung regarding wage negotiations, as noted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members demanded.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this protest is the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung is anticipating a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely due to an AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their pay despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts have noted that Samsung is infamously resistant to union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its employees.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this effort, it will strengthen the labor movement across South Korea,” commented Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.