Samsung employees striking for improved working conditions and higher wages held a significant rally in South Korea on Monday, marking the third week of their ongoing protest 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 followed initial wage negotiation discussions 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 desired workplace improvements. While the union represents over 30,000 employees, the exact number participating in the indefinite strike remains uncertain. Nonetheless, this current strike is recognized as the largest in the company’s history.
Samsung anticipates over a 1,450% increase in second-quarter revenue year-over-year, driven by a boom in artificial intelligence. The company also reported a tenfold increase in profits for the first quarter of 2024. Despite these record gains, the NSEU has stated that workers have not seen any corresponding increases in their pay.
Many of the striking employees are involved in Samsung’s foundry, which is responsible for manufacturing some of the world’s most advanced computer chips, as noted by AFP.
Experts highlight that Samsung has a reputation for being resistant to unions and lacks experience in negotiating with its workforce. Professor Vladimir Tikhonov, a Korean studies expert at the University of Oslo, remarked that if Samsung workers succeed in their efforts, it could empower labor movements throughout South Korea.