Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday as their protest against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the march, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, 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 announced an indefinite strike on July 8, after a prior walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements sought by its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. Nevertheless, this current strike marks the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung is anticipating a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. In contrast, NSEU claims that workers have not seen any pay increases despite the record-breaking profits.
Many striking employees are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it will empower the broader labor movements in South Korea,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in comments to AFP.