Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages staged a large 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 rally, marching along the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press.
The demonstration followed preliminary wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
NSEU members initially declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number engaged in the indefinite strike remains unclear. Nonetheless, this current strike represents the largest in the history of the technology giant.
Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its second-quarter revenue, projecting a rise of more than 1,450% year-on-year, attributed to the AI boom. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits during the first quarter of 2024. Despite these profits, the NSEU contends that workers have not seen corresponding pay raises.
Many strikers are employed at Samsung’s foundry, which produces some of the world’s most advanced computer chips.
Experts note that Samsung has a history of being antagonistic towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies expert at the University of Oslo, stated that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower the broader labor movement in South Korea.