Samsung employees striking for improved 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.
Around 1,200 members of the National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) participated in a march at the Giheung campus in Yongin, as reported. This demonstration followed initial wage negotiation discussions between the union and Samsung that took place on Friday.
The NSEU initiated an indefinite strike on July 8 after previous efforts to secure workplace improvements were unsuccessful. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains unclear. However, this strike is noted as the largest in Samsung’s history.
Samsung predicts a significant rise in its second-quarter revenue, expected to increase by more than 1,450% year-over-year due to the booming artificial intelligence market. Additionally, the company reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record financial results, the NSEU claims that workers are not receiving corresponding pay increases.
Many striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry operations, where they manufacture some of the world’s most advanced computer chips. Experts note that Samsung has a reputation for being unfriendly toward unions and lacks experience in negotiating with employees.
Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korean studies at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their strike, it could bolster labor movements across South Korea.