Workers at Samsung Electronics have organized a large rally in South Korea to advocate for improved working conditions and higher wages as their strike enters its third week. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung held on Friday. The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous walkouts did not yield the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear, though it is noted as the largest strike in the company’s history. Despite Samsung’s forecast of a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue due to a boom in artificial intelligence, and a significant profit surge in the first quarter of 2024, workers claim to have not benefited from these financial gains in terms of pay.
Many employees striking are involved in Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured. Experts highlight that Samsung has a challenging history with union relations and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, commented that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could strengthen labor movements across South Korea.