Employees of Samsung are striking for improved working conditions and increased pay, and they held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their actions against the corporation.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not lead to the workplace improvements sought by its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it is unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this ongoing strike is noted to be the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung is projected to see its second-quarter revenue soar by more than 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by a boom in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that workers have not benefited from these record earnings through increased pay.
Many of the strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight 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, commented that if Samsung workers are successful in their strike, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.