Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased wages gathered for a substantial rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
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 demonstration followed the initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many have joined the indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this action stands as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite projecting a staggering 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue, largely driven by a surge in AI technology, Samsung has been criticized by the NSEU for not passing on these financial gains to its employees. Recently, the company also reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024.
Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where they produce some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to union activities and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a scholar in Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could significantly empower labor movements across South Korea.