Samsung employees advocating for 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 demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
Workers from the NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently on strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite expectations of a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue due to a surge in AI technology, along with a tenfold profit rise in the first quarter of 2024, workers claim their wages have not seen similar growth, according to the NSEU.
Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as indicated by AFP.
Experts have noted that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could potentially empower labor movements across South Korea.