Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike against the company enters 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, according to reports.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members seek.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this current protest is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue to increase by over 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by a surge in AI technology, and it reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has stated that employees are not experiencing corresponding pay raises, despite the company’s record earnings.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.