Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased salaries staged a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike against the tech giant.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the protest, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements its members are seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number currently on indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this strike is recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung anticipates a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, largely attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits in the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record profits, the NSEU highlighted that workers have not experienced a corresponding rise in pay.
Many striking employees work at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks significant experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this effort, it will empower labor movements throughout the rest of South Korea,” stated Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.