Samsung and the union continue negotiations to avoid a major strike.

Samsung Electronics and its largest union will return to the bargaining table on Monday as they race to avert a strike of tens of thousands at the world's largest memory chipmaker.

The National Samsung Electronics Union (NSEU) has set a May 21 deadline for a walkout that could last up to 18 days if the two sides fail to close the wide gap over bonuses and wages. An estimated 41,000 to 50,000 workers are expected to be involved if talks break down.

What is the fight really about?

The main dispute is how Samsung will share profits with the people who make the chips. The union wants 15 percent of the company's operating profit for performance-based bonuses and wants the 50% cap on those bonuses to be eliminated entirely.

Samsung management responded with a 10% allocation and a one-time payment in 2026. The differences between the two positions are stark, and government-organized talks have stalled once after 17 hours of talks.

The alliance has taken a strong line, saying it will not return to talks unless Samsung meaningfully improves its offering.

A pattern, not unusual.

Samsung workers went on strike for the first time in June 2024. More strikes followed in November last year.

The South Korean government is watching closely. Authorities may call on emergency arbitration powers to prevent a strike, weighing the wide-ranging economic consequences of a prolonged shutdown of one of the nation's most important companies.

Why this matters beyond the Samsung campus.

The potential loss due to work stoppages could exceed 40 trillion Korean won, roughly $28 billion.

Global demand for semiconductors remains strong, driven largely by the development of AI infrastructure. Samsung's DRAM and NAND flash products sit at critical nodes in that supply chain.

For the crypto and blockchain sector in particular, semiconductor supply constraints have historically translated into higher mining costs and delays in next-generation chip delivery.