Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased pay gathered for a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung held on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently on indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing action has become the largest strike 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 advancements. The company has reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that employees have not seen corresponding pay raises despite these record profits.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” remarked Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, in an interview with AFP.