Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the ongoing action’s third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This action followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they were seeking. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike, which is noted as the largest in the technology giant’s history.
Despite Samsung’s forecast of a more than 1,450% rise in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, attributed to an AI surge, and a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers are not experiencing corresponding pay increases alongside these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the most sophisticated computer chips are produced. Experts also highlight Samsung’s historical resistance to unions and its limited experience in negotiating with employees.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo noted that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.