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) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU, which represents over 30,000 employees, initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired improvements in workplace conditions. While it remains unclear how many workers are currently on indefinite strike, this movement is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite forecasts predicting a significant increase in Samsung’s revenue — expected to leap over 1,450% year-over-year, attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence — workers have not seen corresponding wage increases, according to the NSEU. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits during the first quarter of 2024, yet many striking workers, who largely contribute to the production of cutting-edge computer chips at Samsung’s foundry, feel left behind.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo remarked that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could bolster the labor movement across South Korea.