Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages recently staged a significant rally in South Korea, marking the third week of their ongoing strike. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported.
This demonstration followed recent wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung. The NSEU had initially declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior effort to secure workplace improvements did not succeed.
While the union claims to represent over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike, which is now recognized as the largest strike in the company’s history.
Despite Samsung’s forecast of an over 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, and a reported tenfold profit surge for the first quarter of 2024, the union asserts that its members have not received corresponding wage increases in light of these financial gains.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Additionally, experts highlight Samsung’s challenging history with unions, noting its limited experience in negotiating with its own workforce.
Experts suggest that if the strike proves successful, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.