A significant rally took place in South Korea on Monday, where about 1,200 employees from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) protested for improved working conditions and higher wages. This demonstration marks the third week of their ongoing strike against the company.
The rally occurred at Samsung’s Giheung campus in Yongin, following initial wage negotiations that took place on Friday between the union and Samsung. The NSEU declared an indefinite strike starting July 8 after a prior walkout failed to achieve the workplace changes its members are advocating for.
While the union comprises over 30,000 members, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this is being recognized as the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Despite Samsung’s projection of over a 1,450% revenue increase year-over-year due to an AI surge and a tenfold profit rise in the first quarter of 2024, workers claim they are not experiencing corresponding pay rises. Many striking employees are engaged in Samsung’s foundry operations, which produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being adversarial towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung employees succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.