Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their action into its third week.
Around 1,200 workers from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
The protest followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
Union workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number currently participating in the indefinite strike is unclear. This strike is noted as the largest in the history of the tech giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant surge in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely driven by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU highlighted that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises despite these record financial results.
Many of the strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, responsible for producing highly advanced computer chips, as reported by AFP.
Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile towards unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers succeed, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.