Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation meetings between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired enhancements in workplace conditions for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite forecasting a more than 1,450% surge in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to a boom in artificial intelligence, Samsung has reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Nevertheless, the NSEU argues that workers have not experienced corresponding pay increases despite the record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Industry experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unionization and lacks experience in negotiations with its workforce.
Korean studies professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could inspire and empower labor movements across South Korea.