Employees at Samsung are on strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, holding a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their protest into its third week.
Approximately 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 rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements that members were seeking. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this protest is noted as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Samsung anticipates that its revenue for the second quarter will rise more than 1,450% year-over-year, driven by the AI boom. The company has also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record earnings, the NSEU claims that employees are not receiving corresponding pay raises.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts characterize Samsung as traditionally resistant to unionization and lacking negotiation experience with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.