Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking three weeks of their ongoing strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not lead to the workplace improvements they sought.
Though the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this action is noted as the largest strike in the history of the technology firm.
Samsung anticipates a tremendous surge in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of over 1,450% year-over-year, driven largely by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees are not receiving corresponding pay increases in light of these record revenues.
Many striking workers are part of Samsung’s foundry operations, which manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being adversarial towards unions and lacks experience in labor negotiations.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted, “If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor.”