Employees of Samsung are striking for improved working conditions and higher wages, holding a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protests.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally follows initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU had previously declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after earlier efforts to secure workplace improvements fell short. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number of those on indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a 1,450% increase in revenue year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by advancements in AI technology. Furthermore, the company reported a tenfold rise in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has expressed concerns that employees have not seen corresponding increases in pay amidst these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most cutting-edge computer chips, as stated by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unionization and lacks extensive experience in worker negotiations. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies expert at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could strengthen the bargaining power of labor throughout South Korea.