Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday as their protest against the company enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by various sources.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday. The NSEU workers had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements that their members were seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike marks the largest labor action in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung projects a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI technology. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that employees have not benefitted from these record earnings.
Many of the striking workers are involved in Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. A professor of Korean studies from the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could inspire the broader labor movement across South Korea.