Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages conducted a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, as noted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous attempts to secure improvements in the workplace were unsuccessful. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the ongoing strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is being recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung forecasting a remarkable second-quarter revenue increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year due to an AI surge, along with a tenfold profit rise in the first three months of 2024, the NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding wage increases amid these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which specializes in manufacturing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Industry experts highlight that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, an expert in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung employees are successful in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.