Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, as indicated by Bloomberg.
NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements sought by its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action is noted as the largest in the technology giant’s history.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue will soar by over 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite record financial returns.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being antagonistic towards unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” remarked Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.