Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher 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) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the workplace improvements its members seek.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this strike is noted as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates its second-quarter revenue to surge more than 1,450% compared to the previous year, driven by an AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU asserts that employees are not receiving commensurate pay raises despite these record profits.
Many of the strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, known for producing some of the most advanced computer chips globally, AFP reported.
Experts indicate that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly towards unions and has little experience in negotiating with its workforce.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower labor across South Korea,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, to AFP.