Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday as their strike extends into its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements sought by its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number of those participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike marks the largest in the history of the technology company.
Despite expecting a dramatic increase in second-quarter revenue—projected to rise more than 1,450% year-over-year due to a boom in artificial intelligence—Samsung reported a tenfold surge in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU emphasized that employees have not received corresponding wage increases amidst these substantial financial gains.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in comments to AFP.