Samsung's chip fabrication workers held a massive rally on April 23 demanding $400,000 average bonuses—about 15% of operating profits—arguing they deserve a larger share of AI-boom windfall comparable to rival SK hynix's terms. Samsung countered with 10% profit allocation and 6.2% raises, but the union rejected it, threatening an 18-day strike starting May 21 that could cost the company an estimated $20 billion in losses. The core dispute reflects a global pattern: semiconductor workers are leveraging record AI-driven profits to demand wage parity with competitors, and Samsung's management has limited room to refuse without risking production shutdown during peak memory chip demand.