Samsung employees protesting for improved working conditions and higher salaries held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The workers from NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many members are actively participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is noted as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI investments. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU insists that workers have not seen corresponding raises despite the company’s record earnings.
A significant number of striking employees are engaged in Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured, as reported by AFP.
Experts describe Samsung as having a historically adversarial stance towards unions and possessing limited experience in negotiations with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.