Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages conducted a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike into the third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This action followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior attempt to negotiate better conditions did not achieve the desired outcomes. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the strike. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates that its revenue for the second quarter will surge by more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not benefited from these record financial returns.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has historically been resistant to unionization and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could inspire labor movements across South Korea.