Samsung employees advocating for better working conditions and higher wages organized a significant 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) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, attributed to a boom in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a challenging relationship with unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its employees. “If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the wider labor movement in South Korea,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, according to AFP.