Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages gathered for a large rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike against the company enters its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to gain the workplace improvements its members are seeking. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is noted to be the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year due to a boom in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record profits, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry division, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, as reported by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being resistant to union influence and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.