About 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) organized a significant rally at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike for improved working conditions and increased wages into its third week.
The rally took place following preliminary wage negotiations between the union and Samsung, which were held on Friday. The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous walkouts failed to achieve the desired improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this ongoing action is being described as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung has projected a remarkable increase in its second-quarter revenue, anticipated to rise by more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. In addition, it reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has indicated that employees are not seeing corresponding increases in their salaries despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being unwelcoming toward unions and lacks experience in labor negotiations.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, who specializes in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers achieve their goals in this strike, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.