Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier work stoppage failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action marks the largest strike in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, fueled by the AI industry boom, and recently reported a tenfold profit surge for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases despite these record financial outcomes.
A significant number of those on strike are employed in Samsung’s foundries, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Additionally, experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, an expert in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could embolden labor movements across South Korea.