In South Korea, approximately 1,200 employees from the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) gathered for a significant rally at the Giheung campus in Yongin on Monday, marking the continuation of their strike for improved working conditions and higher wages into its third week.
The protest followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place last Friday. The union initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous efforts to secure workplace improvements were unsuccessful.
While the NSEU represents over 30,000 workers, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains uncertain, yet it has become the largest strike in the history of the tech giant. Despite Samsung anticipating an impressive revenue increase of over 1,450% year-over-year due to advancements in AI technology, alongside a tenfold profit surge in the first quarter of 2024, workers claim they have not benefited from these financial gains.
A significant portion of the striking workforce operates within Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are manufactured. Experts point out that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and lacks substantial experience in labor negotiations.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers achieve success in their efforts, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.