Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) rallied on Monday at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages continued into its third week.
The rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. The strike began on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not lead to the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike has been characterized as the largest in the history of the technology company.
Despite a projected revenue increase exceeding 1,450% year-over-year for the second quarter, driven by the rise of artificial intelligence, and a tenfold profit surge in the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers have not benefitted from these financial gains.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Industry experts note that Samsung has a challenging history with unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, a successful strike could strengthen labor movements throughout South Korea.