Samsung employees fighting for improved working conditions and increased wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements its members are seeking.
While the union encompasses over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year attributed to an AI surge. The company also reported a tenfold profit rise in the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite the record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as highlighted by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung employees succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor across South Korea.