Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages gathered for a large 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, as reported by the Associated Press.
The protest followed preliminary wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU members announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements they seek.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many employees are currently on indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action marks the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in revenue for the second quarter, largely driven by a surge in AI technology. The company has also reported a tenfold rise in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, NSEU contends that employees are not seeing equivalent raises despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most sophisticated computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.