Failing to reach an agreement over wages and bonuses after government-mediated negotiations, Samsung has increased the likelihood of a major strike later this month. Union members are demanding changes to the company’s bonus structure and greater transparency in compensation, especially as Samsung benefits from rising AI chip demand. The dispute reflects growing labor militancy within South Korea’s tech sector, where union membership at Samsung has expanded rapidly in recent years.
See "Samsung Electronics fails to reach deal with union; PM says strike must be averted", Hyunjoo Jin and Heekyong Yang, Reuters, May 13, 2026