Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are engaged in the ongoing indefinite strike. However, this strike is already noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely attributed to the booming AI sector. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. Despite these record earnings, NSEU has stated that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
A significant number of those on strike are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and has limited experience in negotiating with its employees.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this effort, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor movement,” remarked Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, to AFP.