Employees from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) held a major rally on Monday in South Korea, marking the third week of their strike aimed at securing better working conditions and higher wages. Approximately 1,200 union members marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, following recent wage negotiation discussions with the company.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous efforts to achieve workplace improvements fell short. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. This current strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite a projected revenue surge of over 1,450% year-over-year in the second quarter due to a boom in artificial intelligence, and a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the union argues that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Additionally, experts highlight that Samsung has a history of being resistant to union activities and lacks significant experience in negotiating with its workforce.
If the Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could have a significant influence on labor movements across South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.