Workers at Samsung Electronics are continuing their strike for better working conditions and higher wages, holding a significant rally in South Korea on Monday as their movement enters its third week. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin.
This rally follows initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday. The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike marks the largest in Samsung’s history. The company is anticipating a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to a surge in demand for AI technologies, and it previously reported a tenfold profit increase in the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not benefited from these record profits.
Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, known for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Additionally, experts note that Samsung has a history of being antagonistic towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if the Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could strengthen labor movements across South Korea.