【AI前沿】Samsung has a tentative deal with workers to avoid a memory chip strike

TechBusinessNewsSamsung has a tentative deal with workers to avoid a memory chip strikeWith a global memory shortage already under way, workers at the world’s biggest manufacturer were threatening to strike.With a global memory shortage already under way, workers at the world’s biggest manufacturer were threatening to strike.byJess WeatherbedUpdatedMay 20, 2026, 4:35 PM UTCLinkShareGiftSamsung Electronics workers attended a rally outside the company’s semiconductor plant in Pyeongtaek on April 23rd, ahead of the planned strike.Photo by SeongJoon Cho/Bloombergvia Getty ImagesPart OfRAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortagesee all updatesJess Weatherbedis a news writer focused on creative industries, computing, and internet culture. Jess started her career at TechRadar, covering news and hardware reviews.More than 47,000 Samsung Electronics workers were gearing up for an 18-day strike after bonus payment negotiations between the company and its union collapsed. The strike was set to start on Thursday at Samsung’s domestic chipmaking plants, raising concerns around the already constrained production of memory chips amid the ongoing shortage.Later on Wednesday,both parties announcedthat labor and management had reached a tentative agreement. On its website,the union confirmed strike plans have been suspendeduntil further notice, pending a vote on the deal.RelatedRAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortageThe RAM shortage is coming for everything you care aboutWhile the union had agreed to mediation proposed by South Korea’s National Labor Relations Commission (the details of which have not been made public), management at Samsung Electronics had rejected the deal without explanation, according toNikkei Asia.As part of its demands, the Samsung union has sought performance bonuses equivalent to 15 percent of the company’s operating profit and the removal of a cap on bonuses of 50 percent of annual wages. The negotiations collapse comes during a time of record profits for Samsung, having established itself as the world’s largest producer of memory chips.Both Samsung and the workers union had been urged by South Korean government officials to reach an agreement in the days leading up to the strike, with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok having reportedly warned that the government may step in and prevent the strike from going ahead. South Korean law permits an “emergency adjustment” to be invoked when disputes may harm the economy or daily life. Samsung is South Korea’s largest company, responsible for about 23 percent of the country’s exports and 26 percent of its total market capitalization, according toCNBC.Update, May 20th:Added information that a tentative deal has been reached and strike plans are suspended.Follow topics and authorsfrom this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Jess WeatherbedBusinessNewsSamsungTechMore in:RAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortageThe future of game consoles is looking bleakAndrew WebsterMay 8Sony’s PS5 sales plummet amid price rises and a memory crisisTom WarrenMay 8Nintendo is raising Switch 2 pricesJess WeatherbedMay 8Most PopularMost PopularGoogle is launching its own version of OpenClawThe biggest data center ever is becoming a huge problem in UtahThe 13 biggest announcements at Google I/O 2026If Google can’t make AI agents useful, maybe no one can‘It’s in the air’: Apple TV’s hottest new shows explore different sides of OnlyFansThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to ourTermsandPrivacy Notice.This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the GooglePrivacy PolicyandTerms of Serviceapply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native ad