Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their strike reaches its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU workers declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout failed to achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union has representation for over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike marks the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a remarkable increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely attributed to a surge in artificial intelligence. The company reported a tenfold profit increase for the first quarter of 2024. However, NSEU has expressed concerns that workers have not benefited from these record profits.
Many striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, according to AFP.
Experts indicate 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, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.