Samsung employees striking for enhanced working conditions and better pay gathered in large numbers in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the tech giant.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not yield the workplace improvements they sought. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this current strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung projecting a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by an AI boom, employees have reported no corresponding increase in wages, according to the NSEU. The company also noted a tenfold surge in profits during the first quarter of 2024, yet workers claim they have not benefited from these financial gains.
Many of the striking employees are engaged in manufacturing at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts highlight that Samsung is known for its tough stance on unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.