Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, as their protest enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung last Friday.
NSEU workers began an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous attempt to negotiate workplace improvements failed. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Amidst this labor action, Samsung projected a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, expecting a more than 1,450% increase compared to the previous year, driven by the AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU asserts that workers are not benefiting from these record profits through increased pay.
A significant portion of the striking workers is employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are produced. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.