Employees at Samsung are continuing their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages, with a significant rally taking place in South Korea on Monday. This protest marks the third week of their ongoing action against the company.
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 by the Associated Press.
This demonstration follows initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that occurred on Friday, as noted by Bloomberg.
The NSEU had declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not achieve the desired workplace improvements.
While the union advocates for more than 30,000 employees, the number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this current strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Despite Samsung Electronics anticipating a staggering 1,450% rise in second-quarter revenue year-over-year due to advancements in artificial intelligence, and a tenfold increase in profits for the early part of 2024, workers have not seen corresponding wage increases, according to the NSEU.
Many striking employees are involved in the foundry, where some of the most advanced computer chips globally are manufactured, as reported by AFP.
Analysts also highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being hostile toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, stated, “If Samsung workers succeed in this undertaking, it will empower the rest of South Korea’s labor.”