Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages gathered for 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) participated in a march at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial negotiations between the union and Samsung, which took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU members declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous attempt to walk out did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union encompasses over 30,000 workers, the exact number of those who joined the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite reporting an expected revenue increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year in the second quarter, driven by a surge in artificial intelligence, and a tenfold profit boost in the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU argues that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many striking workers are involved in Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as highlighted by AFP.
Experts point out that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers achieve their goals, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.