Samsung Union Strike Targets Top AI Chip Factory

Samsung Electronics' largest union has adjusted its strategy following indications of reduced momentum in its wage increase campaign. The union is now advocating for strikes among employees at Samsung's advanced artificial intelligence (AI) memory chip facility.

This week, the union called for a general strike, with hundreds of employees protesting outside Samsung's Pyeongtaek High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) factory on Thursday (July 11) and Friday (July 12). This is in contrast to the large public rally held outside Samsung's main Hwaseong facility on Monday (July 8). Union leaders emphasize targeting a strategically significant, albeit smaller, factory to exert pressure on Samsung.

Lee Hyun-gu, the union's vice secretary-general, noted that focusing on high-end chip production lines represents the most impactful strategy against management.

The unexpected announcement of a general strike by Samsung's largest union, representing over 30,000 workers, raises concerns about potential disruptions to production. Samsung has consistently stated that the current impact on production remains minimal.

In its official statement, Samsung reiterated its commitment to sincere negotiations with the union and expressed its desire to swiftly resume talks. The company affirms its operations continue as planned, maintaining seamless responsiveness to customer demands.

Samsung Electronics' national union chairman Son Woo-mok acknowledged reports of significant disruptions at factories, with equipment shutdowns following worker strikes on Thursday. However, he refrained from speculating on the ultimate scale of worker participation in the general strike.

Previously, the union indicated initial focus on production lines using 8-inch silicon wafers and relying more heavily on manual labor.