Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus located in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiations held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
Workers from the NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements they were demanding.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently on indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this protest is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite projecting an impressive increase of over 1,450% in second-quarter revenue year-on-year due to a surge in AI, Samsung has reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that workers have not received corresponding pay increases despite these record earnings.
A significant portion of the striking workers is employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, should Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it would empower labor movements across South Korea.