Samsung employees advocating for improved working conditions and increased pay rallied in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation discussions held between the union and Samsung last Friday.
NSEU workers initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous attempt to secure better workplace conditions did not yield results.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this current action is noted as the largest strike in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a staggering 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence, and reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has pointed out that workers have not seen commensurate pay increases despite these record financial results.
Many striking employees work at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements across South Korea.