Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike against the tech giant enters its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea. This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions that took place on Friday between the union and Samsung.
The NSEU, which represents over 30,000 employees, initially announced an indefinite strike on July 8, after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the exact number of workers on indefinite strike remains unclear, this action is marked as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a substantial increase in its second-quarter revenue, projected to rise more than 1,450% year-over-year due to advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU contends that workers are not seeing corresponding increases in their wages despite these record financial results.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, known for manufacturing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts note that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiations with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, if the Samsung workers achieve success in their current efforts, it could strengthen labor movements across South Korea.