Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages conducted a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by various media outlets.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to reports.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not secure the workplace improvements its members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this action is noted as the largest strike in the history of the tech giant.
Samsung projects a revenue increase exceeding 1,450% year-over-year in the second quarter, driven by an AI boom, and has reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, union representatives argue that employees have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s semiconductor foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its employees.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, stated that if Samsung’s workers are successful in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.