Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration at the Giheung campus in Yongin. This rally followed preliminary wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU, which represents over 30,000 workers, initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. However, it remains unclear how many members are currently participating in the indefinite strike, although it is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s forecast of a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue driven by an AI surge, and a tenfold rise in profits in the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases, despite the company’s record earnings.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips. Additionally, experts point out that Samsung historically exhibits a strong aversion to unions and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
An academic from the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.