Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased pay staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 workers from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This mobilization followed the initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after earlier attempts to secure workplace improvements were unsuccessful.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the specific number of those currently on indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung is projecting a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in revenue for the second quarter, fueled by a surge in AI technology. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not received pay raises despite these record earnings.
The striking workers primarily operate in Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial toward unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
If the workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen labor movements across South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.