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) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8, after a prior walkout did not yield the workplace improvements that members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is characterized as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, largely due to a surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first three months of 2024. However, NSEU has highlighted that employees have not seen commensurate pay increases despite these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as noted by AFP.
Experts have pointed out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks considerable experience in negotiating with its workforce.
If Samsung’s workers achieve success in their efforts, it could potentially empower labor movements throughout South Korea, as stated by Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.