Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike against the company for the third consecutive week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number involved in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a staggering increase of more than 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely attributed to the boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that despite these record earnings, employees have not seen corresponding increases in their pay.
Many of the striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as noted by AFP.
Experts point out that Samsung is known for its resistance to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies expert at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their current efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.