Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher salaries conducted a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest action into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, as mentioned by Bloomberg.
NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the workplace advancements their members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this current strike stands as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant boost in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a year-over-year increase of over 1,450%, attributed to the surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these impressive financial results, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being difficult towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.