Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU began an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous efforts to secure better workplace conditions did not yield results. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike; nonetheless, this current strike is the largest in the company’s history.
Despite Samsung Electronics projecting a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue driven by an AI surge, and a tenfold profit increase reported for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU asserts that workers have not seen comparable wage increases amid these record earnings.
Many striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are produced. Observers note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to union activities and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Experts suggest that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could inspire broader labor empowerment across South Korea, as noted by Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.