Samsung Workers Rally for Change: Will They Succeed?

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Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and better pay held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their action against the company.

Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) took part in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea. This demonstration occurred after initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung on Friday.

The NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to secure the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this current strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology firm.

Samsung anticipates a significant surge in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely attributed to advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU points out that workers are not benefiting from these record profits through higher wages.

Many striking workers are engaged in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.

Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. If the workers at Samsung succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen labor movements across South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.

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