Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous attempt to improve workplace conditions fell short of their goals.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many members are participating in the indefinite strike. However, this action has become the largest strike in the company’s history.
Despite Samsung anticipating a significant revenue increase of over 1,450% year-over-year in the second quarter, attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence, workers have not seen corresponding wage increases. The company reported a tenfold profit increase during the first three months of 2024, yet NSEU highlights that employees are not benefiting from these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where advanced computer chips are manufactured, according to AFP.
Experts point out that Samsung has a challenging history with labor 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 workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower other labor movements throughout South Korea.