Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher salaries gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported. The demonstration followed initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung held the previous Friday.
The NSEU had 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 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung forecasts a staggering 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, largely attributed to the booming AI sector. It also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not received corresponding pay increases despite the company’s record profits.
Many of the striking employees work in Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s leading advanced computer chips. Industry experts point out Samsung’s historical resistance to unions and its lack of experience in negotiating with employees.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if the Samsung workers succeed in their demands, it could empower the broader labor movement across South Korea.