Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages gathered for a significant 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) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
Union members had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union encompasses over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many individuals are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing action is now recognized as the largest in the technology company’s history.
Samsung anticipates that its second-quarter revenue will surge by more than 1,450% compared to the previous year, largely due to advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. Despite this financial success, NSEU asserts that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages.
Many participants in the strike are 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 resistant to unions and lacks significant experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a scholar in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.