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Samsung Electronics Workers Approve May Strike Over Bonus Caps

An overwhelming ballot gives unions legal grounds following a breakdown in wage talks.

Overview

  • Unions say 93.1% of 66,019 participants backed industrial action, with turnout at 73.5% among roughly 90,000 eligible members.
  • If no deal is reached, workers plan an 18‑day walkout from May 21 to June 7, with a press conference next week near Chairman Lee Jae‑yong’s residence and a large rally on April 23.
  • Core demands include transparent bonus calculations, removal of the cap on performance‑based payouts, and a 7% increase in base pay.
  • Samsung has proposed a 6.2% wage hike, 20 treasury shares, and revised incentive options tied to economic value added or operating profit, but the cap on bonuses remains the sticking point.
  • Union leaders warn a strike could cut output by about half at the Pyeongtaek chip complex, a risk to global semiconductor supply as AI‑driven demand stays strong.