Samsung Workers Strike: Will Change Finally Come?

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Employees of Samsung are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally held in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest.

Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported.

The rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.

The NSEU had announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the history of the technology giant.

Samsung anticipates a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, fueled by a boom in AI. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU argues that employees have not seen any corresponding pay increases despite these record financial results.

Many striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured.

Experts indicate that Samsung has historically been resistant to unionization and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.

A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, stated that if Samsung workers are successful in their efforts, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.

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