Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased pay organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest, which has now entered its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unspecified. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a surge in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold rise in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not received corresponding pay increases despite the company’s record profits.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts highlight Samsung’s historical resistance to unions and its lack of experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could bolster the broader labor movement in South Korea.