Employees at Samsung are striking for improved working conditions and increased wages, with a large rally taking place in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing action.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered for the demonstration at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by various news outlets.
This rally followed initial wage negotiation talks held between the union and Samsung on Friday. The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members sought.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this is noted as the largest strike in the history of the technology firm.
Samsung anticipates a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, predicting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely due to advancements in artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that workers have not received corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many striking employees are part of Samsung’s foundry operations, which manufacture some of the most advanced semiconductor chips globally.
Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile toward unions and lacks extensive experience in labor negotiations. According to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, success in this strike could strengthen the labor movement across South Korea.