Samsung employees striking for better working conditions and higher pay held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 workers from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, the current strike is being recognized as the largest in the company’s history.
Despite Samsung forecasting a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to an AI boom and reporting a tenfold profit increase in the first three months of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases amid these record returns.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where advanced computer chips are produced.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could significantly empower labor movements throughout South Korea.