Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and increased wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung held on Friday, as noted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 individuals, the specific number of those participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike is characterized as the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Despite Samsung’s projections of over a 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI technology, the union stated that employees have not seen corresponding wage increases, even as the company reported a tenfold profit surge during the first quarter of 2024.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to union activity and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could bolster the strength of labor movements throughout South Korea.