Employees of Samsung are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, recently staging a significant rally in South Korea as their protests enter the third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched 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 last Friday.
The strike was announced on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this action marks the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant revenue surge of more than 1,450% year-over-year for the second quarter, fueled by advancements in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first three months of 2024. However, NSEU has pointed out that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unionization and has limited experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies expert at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.