Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their action against the company into its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that occurred on Friday.
The NSEU initially declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently engaged in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this action represents the largest strike in the history of the technology company.
Samsung has projected that its second-quarter revenue will increase by over 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI technology. The company also announced a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024, yet the NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record earnings.
A substantial number of striking employees work at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for manufacturing some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts have noted that Samsung has a notorious reputation for being hostile towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, a successful outcome for Samsung workers could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.