Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages organized a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, as noted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements sought by its members.
While the union advocates for over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this action is recognized as the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projection of a more than 1,450% year-over-year surge in second-quarter revenue due to a boom in artificial intelligence, as well as a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises.
Many striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, which produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and has limited 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 their efforts, it could significantly empower the labor movement across South Korea.