Employees of Samsung struck for improved working conditions and higher wages, gathering for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their protest entered its third week. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiations held with Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg. The NSEU members declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not lead to satisfactory workplace improvements.
The union represents over 30,000 employees, but it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this protest is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a staggering increase of more than 1,450% in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven largely by advancements in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold surge in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has stated that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their wages despite the company’s record earnings.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts assert that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly toward unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies professor at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers achieve success in their current efforts, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.