By Muna Turki
Publication Date: 2026-04-23 17:38:00
About 40,000 Samsung Electronics workers demonstrated on Thursday, demanding a larger share of the company’s booming profits.
Unions warned they could launch an 18-day strike if their demands were not met, potentially leading to a halt in production of chips needed to feed the growing AI industry.
The South Korean giant said it would continue its efforts to reach a quick agreement in ongoing wage negotiations.
What are the demands of the Samsung unions?
Samsung unions said the company had failed to offer an adequate pay package despite its strong performance. Samsung shares have risen nearly 300% over the past year, driven by demand for AI chips.
Among other things, the unions want Samsung to lift the cap on bonus payments. The upper limit is currently 50% of the annual base salary.
The unions say a chip department employee earning 76 million won (US$51,000, 44,000 euros) would receive a bonus of 38 million won (US$26,000, 22,000 euros) in 2025. That’s less than a third of what an employee…
