Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for 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 rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that occurred last Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements its members sought. While the union claims to represent over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is being recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung predicts a staggering rise of more than 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-on-year, driven by the surge in artificial intelligence. The company has also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has pointed out that workers are not receiving corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating labor issues.
If the Samsung workers succeed in their current efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea, as highlighted by Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.