Samsung employees are currently on strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, 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 occurred on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the changes its members seek.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are engaged in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, the current strike is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung’s projected second-quarter revenue surge of more than 1,450% year-over-year, attributed to a boom in artificial intelligence, and a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases amidst these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally, according to AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov from the University of Oslo commented that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.