Employees of Samsung, striking for improved working conditions and higher wages, staged a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action.
Approximately 1,200 workers from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU began an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members are demanding. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this action is noted as the most significant strike in Samsung’s history.
Samsung projects a staggering increase of more than 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue, driven by advancements in artificial intelligence, and has reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not received corresponding raises despite the record profits being reported.
Many of the strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung is often seen as resistant to unionization and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that a successful strike by Samsung workers could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.