Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and better wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their action into a third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation talks that took place on Friday between the union and the company, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous attempt to secure workplace improvements did not yield the desired results.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Regardless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a staggering 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue attributed to a surge in AI demand. The company also announced a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has claimed that workers are not benefiting from these financial gains in the form of increased pay.
Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as reported by AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, as noted by AFP.