Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased pay organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung last Friday, as stated by Bloomberg.
The NSEU had initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout failed to achieve the workplace improvements desired by its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number of those on indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is being recognized as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% rise in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a surge in artificial intelligence demand. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite these record earnings.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts have noted that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its own workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower other labor movements throughout South Korea.