Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased wages assembled for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking three weeks of ongoing action against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
On July 8, NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many individuals are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue could increase more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI demand. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase during the first three months of 2024. In contrast, NSEU contends that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises despite the company’s record financial performance.
Many striking employees are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, noted that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could empower labor movements across South Korea.