Employees of Samsung have staged a large rally in South Korea to demand improved working conditions and higher pay, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally held at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
The protest followed the initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike starting July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the workplace improvements its members were seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it’s unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this current strike is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung is anticipating a remarkable surge in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, NSEU representatives argue that workers are not receiving pay raises commensurate with these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as noted by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being unyielding towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo expressed that if Samsung employees succeed in their efforts, it could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.