Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered in significant numbers in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
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 event followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung held the previous Friday.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not secure the workplace improvements its members seek. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the specific number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s forecasted second-quarter revenue surge of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely driven by an AI boom, workers claim they have not seen corresponding increases in pay. The company has also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where cutting-edge computer chips are manufactured. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial towards union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, the success of Samsung workers in this endeavor could empower labor movements across South Korea.