Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and increased wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their protest against the company. Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the demonstration, marching along the Giheung campus in Yongin.
This rally followed initial wage negotiations between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday. The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members were seeking.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are currently participating in the indefinite strike, which has become the largest in the technology company’s history. Despite Samsung reporting a projected 1,450% surge in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, fueled by an AI boom, workers claim they have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured. Experts note that Samsung has a historical aversion to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung employees succeed in their efforts, it could inspire and empower labor movements across South Korea.