Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung, which took place last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU members declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not result in the workplace improvements they were seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung has projected a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, expecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI technology. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that employees are not experiencing corresponding wage increases despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this effort, it will inspire the broader labor movement in South Korea,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, as stated by AFP.