Samsung workers threaten strike, impacting chip supply

Tens of thousands of Samsung Electronics workers are preparing for a potential 18-day strike next month over bonus disputes, which could exacerbate the existing memory chip shortage. The union is demanding Samsung scrap its performance bonus cap and allocate 15% of operating profit to workers, a proposal Samsung has rejected. This labor unrest occurs as the AI boom drives unprecedented demand for high-bandwidth memory chips, with Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron racing to meet AI data center needs. The conflict highlights the critical role of memory chips in AI and the potential for supply chain disruptions.