Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased pay demonstrated at a large rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions 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 achieve the workplace improvements they sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this current act is noted as the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue to soar over 1,450% year-over-year, largely due to advancements in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not experienced corresponding pay increases despite these record earnings.
Many striking workers are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, which manufacture some of the most sophisticated computer chips globally.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unionization and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
If the Samsung employees succeed in their efforts, it may bolster the labor movement across South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.