Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their protest against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that occurred on Friday.
The NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements that its members are seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. However, this current strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s forecast indicating a projected revenue increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI boom, and a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU contends that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
A significant number of striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured.
Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov of the University of Oslo highlighted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could invigorate labor movements across South Korea.