Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher compensation demonstrated in a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike, now entering its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by various sources.
This demonstration follows initial discussions between the union and Samsung regarding wage negotiations that took place on Friday.
NSEU workers initially announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements their members are seeking. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the specific number of participants on the indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this current strike is the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record gains, NSEU claims that workers are not experiencing corresponding wage increases.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where advanced computer chips are manufactured. Additionally, experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial towards unions, lacking substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.