Approximately 1,200 workers from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a significant rally on Monday at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages enters its third week.
This demonstration occurred following initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday. The NSEU members initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this is the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a staggering 1,450% increase in its second-quarter revenue compared to the previous year, driven by a surge in artificial intelligence developments. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has expressed concerns that its members have not seen similar increases in their wages despite the company’s record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts highlight that Samsung has a notoriously adversarial stance toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo noted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.