Samsung Chip Factory Strike Talks Collapse as 40,000-Worker Walkout Looms With $700 Million Daily Losses

Government-mediated negotiations between Samsung Electronics and its largest labor union collapsed after 17 hours of talks, leaving eight days before a planned 18-day walkout by more than 40,000 chipmaking employees from May 21 to June 7. The dispute centers on bonuses tied to AI-related earnings, with the union demanding 15 percent of operating profit allocated to bonuses while Samsung refuses permanent changes. Losses from the strike are projected at 1 trillion won ($671 million) per day, threatening global HBM and semiconductor supply chains.