Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages conducted a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, continuing their action against the company as it enters a 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 various sources. This rally follows initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8, after a prior walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike marks the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, primarily attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence demand. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. Despite this financial success, the NSEU contends that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundries, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly to unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.