Employees of Samsung Electronics continued their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, organizing a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through Samsung’s Giheung campus in Yongin. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung last Friday.
The workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve their desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the specific number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this ongoing strike is noted to be the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a substantial increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year due to the surge in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits in the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not benefited from these record profits through increased wages.
Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where they manufacture some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and lacks substantial experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that if Samsung workers succeed, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.