Employees of Samsung Electronics have organized a significant rally in South Korea as they continue their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, entering its third week. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
The rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg. NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired changes in the workplace.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are actively participating in the indefinite strike. This current action is noted as the largest strike in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projection of a revenue increase surpassing 1,450% year-over-year, driven by a surge in AI technologies, and a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU has claimed that workers have not seen corresponding pay increases despite the company’s record earnings.
The strikers include many workers from Samsung’s foundry, which manufactures some of the most advanced computer chips globally, as reported by AFP. Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its employees.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, noted that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.