Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher pay held a major 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) gathered and marched at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported by the Associated Press. The rally followed initial wage negotiation talks between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday, according to Bloomberg.
The NSEU declared an indefinite strike on July 8 after a previous walkout did not yield the workplace improvements workers sought. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, it remains unclear how many are participating in the indefinite strike. Nonetheless, this action is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung is anticipating a more than 1,450% year-over-year increase in its second-quarter revenue, fueled by an AI boom, and reported a tenfold surge in profits for the first three months of 2024. However, the NSEU claims that despite these record profits, workers have not seen corresponding pay increases.
Many strikers are employed in Samsung’s foundry, where some of the world’s most advanced computer chips are produced, as noted by AFP. Additionally, experts highlight that Samsung has a history of being unfriendly towards unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, commented that a successful outcome for Samsung workers could empower labor movements across South Korea.