Samsung employees striking for better working conditions and higher wages held a large rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest against the company.
Approximately 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in the rally, which took place at the Giheung campus in Yongin, according to reports. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions that occurred between the union and Samsung on Friday.
The NSEU announced an indefinite strike on July 8 after a prior walkout did not yield the desired workplace improvements for its members. While the union represents over 30,000 workers, it remains unclear how many are currently on indefinite strike. Nevertheless, this protest is being recognized as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung anticipating a more than 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to an AI boom and reporting a tenfold rise in profits for the first quarter of 2024, the NSEU claims that workers are not benefiting from these record earnings.
Many striking employees are part of Samsung’s foundry division, where they produce some of the most advanced computer chips globally. Experts note that Samsung has a history of being uncooperative with unions and lacks a strong track record in negotiating with its workforce.
A professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, Vladimir Tikhonov, stated that if Samsung workers successfully achieve their goals, it could significantly strengthen labor movements throughout South Korea.