Employees of Samsung are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday. This protest marks the third week of their action.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which occurred at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
The demonstration followed initial wage negotiation talks held between the union and Samsung on Friday. The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not 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. Nonetheless, this current strike stands as the largest in Samsung’s history.
The company anticipates a remarkable increase in its second-quarter revenue, projected to rise over 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI surge. Additionally, Samsung reported a tenfold profit increase for the first three months of 2024. Despite these financial successes, the NSEU has indicated that workers have not received corresponding pay raises.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, known for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, stated that if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could bolster the overall labor movement across South Korea.