Samsung Electronics union sticks to strike plan despite talks offer, shares slide
Samsung Electronics' largest union has said it is sticking with its strike plan despite the company's offer to resume talks. According to the Straits Times, the company's share price fell sharply after the announcement, with investors pricing in possible disruption to the memory chip supply chain. The standoff is a key test for South Korea's tech sector, closely watched by global capex investors.
The largest union representing Samsung Electronics workers said it would not back away from its strike plan despite the company's offer to resume talks. According to the Straits Times, the union argues that the wage increase and performance bonus structure proposed by management is not sufficient. Shares in Seoul booked a notable decline after the announcement.
Samsung is the global leader in the memory chip market and a prolonged strike could ripple through the chain from producers to clients. Demand for DRAM and HBM products on the AI side is already high, and any disruption could push pricing higher in the short term. Some analysts note that the high level of factory automation may limit the strike's operational impact.
The two sides plan to meet again in the coming days, but if the standoff drags on, South Korea's technology export figures could be hurt. The Korean won has been trading sensitively to Samsung headlines. The government said it is in contact with both sides and supports continued negotiation.
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