Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest into its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a march along the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the demands its members are advocating for.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung is projecting a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely due to a surge in AI demand. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Most of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as reported by AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower labor movements throughout South Korea,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, as reported by AFP.