Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages demonstrated in a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements they sought.
While the union represents more than 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this action is being recognized as the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a remarkable second-quarter revenue increase of over 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI advancements. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has pointed out that workers have not seen corresponding increases in their salaries despite the company’s record profits.
Many of the striking employees are involved in manufacturing at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most sophisticated computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unsupportive of union activities and lacks significant experience in negotiations with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.