Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages demonstrated in a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This event followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many have participated in the indefinite strike. Regardless, the current action is being described as the largest in the technology giant’s history.
Despite Samsung projecting a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to advancements in artificial intelligence, the NSEU emphasizes that employees are not witnessing an increase in their pay despite the company’s substantial profits. The company reported a tenfold profit increase during the first quarter of 2024. Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts point out that Samsung has historically been resistant to union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies expert at the University of Oslo, stated that if the workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.