Employees of Samsung who are striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus located in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this action stands as the largest strike in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung is projecting that its revenue for the second quarter will increase by more than 1,450% compared to the previous year, fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that employees are not receiving corresponding wage increases despite these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where advanced computer chips are produced, according to AFP.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.