Micron’s Taiwan Unions Prepare for Strike Vote Over Bonuses
Roughly 10,000 Micron workers in Taiwan, represented by two unions, are gearing up for a potential strike. Per Reuters, 80% of those polled in a preliminary survey support industrial action. The dispute centers on bonuses, specifically the calculation method, with the unions advocating for a profit-sharing scheme over Micron’s current incentive pay plan.
The unions draw comparisons to Samsung and SK hynix, noting that these companies allocate a larger percentage of profits to employee bonuses. While Samsung offers 10.5% and SK hynix offers 10%, Micron pays an average of only 2.6 months’ salary, which the unions find unacceptable.
The timing is opportune for the unions given the recent surge in memory prices due to AI companies’ increased demand for computing capacity. A strike could significantly impact Micron’s operations in Taiwan, as specialized workforce and limited production relocation options make disruption challenging.
Mediation sessions are scheduled for late August and mid-September, with a potential formal strike vote in September if talks fail. This industrial action could further tighten the already tight global DRAM market, potentially affecting consumer electronics prices and availability.