Samsung employees striking for better working conditions and higher wages held 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) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the improvements in the workplace that members sought. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. Nevertheless, this strike has become the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue compared to the previous year, largely attributed to a booming AI sector. Furthermore, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has highlighted that employees are not experiencing any pay raises despite these record financial outcomes.
Many of the striking workers are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as noted by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with employees. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers achieve success in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.