Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher salaries organized a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike against the company into its third week.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
Workers from the NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired improvements in their workplace conditions.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this strike represents the largest labor action in Samsung’s history.
The company anticipates a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in second-quarter revenue due to a surge in AI-related demand. Additionally, Samsung reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU has pointed out that employees have not seen corresponding pay increases, despite these record profits.
Many of the striking workers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the most advanced computer chips globally.
Experts also note that Samsung has a history of being resistant to unionization and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung’s workers succeed, it would have a positive impact on labor movements across South Korea.