Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) rallied and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea. This demonstration occurred following initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung reported last Friday.
The NSEU members declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous attempt to walk out did not yield the desired improvements in their workplace conditions. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is considered the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Despite Samsung’s projections indicating a staggering 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, largely attributed to an AI surge, the NSEU highlighted that employees have not experienced corresponding pay increases despite the company’s record profits. The first quarter of 2024 saw a tenfold increase in profits.
Many strikers work at Samsung’s foundry, which is known for manufacturing some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts noted that Samsung has historically been resistant to unions and lacks experience in engaging in negotiations with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, an expert in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their actions, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.