Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher pay rallied in South Korea on Monday as their strike extends into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This rally followed initial discussions between the union and Samsung regarding wage negotiations held last Friday.
The indefinite strike was initiated on July 8, after a prior walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements that union members sought. While the NSEU represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Notably, this strike marks the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung anticipating a significant rise in second-quarter revenue—expected to increase more than 1,450% year-over-year due to an AI boom—and reporting a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU argues that employees have not seen corresponding pay raises.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for producing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo stated that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.