Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, as their action extends into its third week.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally and marched through the Giheung campus in Yongin, South Korea, as reported by the Associated Press.
This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements for its members.
While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number involved in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nevertheless, this current strike is noted as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates a more than 1,450% increase in its second-quarter revenue year-over-year, spurred by the AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold profit surge for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU has indicated that workers are not receiving corresponding pay increases despite these record profits.
Many striking workers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung is known for its resistance toward unions and lacks experience in negotiations with its employees.
“If Samsung workers succeed in this endeavor, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor,” said Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo.