Samsung employees who are striking for improved working conditions and higher salaries staged a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung last Friday.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not secure the workplace improvements sought by its members.
Although the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is regarded as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue will soar by more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by an AI boom, and has reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU highlighted that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, which produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts have noted that Samsung is known for its resistance to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, “If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor.”