Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday as their protest extends into 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, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations held between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, attributed to a surge in AI demand. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite the company’s record profits.
Many striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if the workers at Samsung succeed in their efforts, it could empower the broader labor movement across South Korea.