Samsung employees demanding improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing strike.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, marching through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation sessions that took place between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after an earlier walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number of those on indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this strike is noted to be the largest in Samsung’s history.
Amid the strike, Samsung is anticipating a significant surge in its second-quarter revenue, projecting an increase of more than 1,450% year-over-year, largely attributed to a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024. However, the NSEU highlighted that workers have not seen corresponding wage increases despite the company’s record earnings.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts point out that Samsung has a challenging history with unions and lacks extensive experience in negotiating with its workforce.
If the efforts of Samsung workers prove successful, it could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea, according to Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.