Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages organized a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike into its 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 occurred following initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements their members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the technology company’s history.
Despite Samsung’s forecast of a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue driven by an AI boom, and a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims workers have not seen corresponding wage increases amidst these record profits.
Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, as reported by AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this effort, it will embolden labor movements throughout South Korea,” remarked Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in an interview with AFP.