Workers at US chipmaker Micron Technology’s operations in Taiwan have voted overwhelmingly to authorise a strike over a dispute about the company’s bonus and profit-sharing scheme.
The Taoyuan union, which represents workers at Micron’s facility in northern Taiwan, said 1,994 members, representing 99 per cent of those who voted, backed industrial action.
The union has not announced when a strike would begin, saying discussions on the timing and other details are still ongoing.
The development comes as Micron and other major memory-chip manufacturers benefit from surging demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure, with workers seeking a greater share of the industry’s growing profits.
Taiwan is a major production base for Micron’s DRAM and high-bandwidth memory chips, which are widely used in AI servers. A strike could therefore add pressure to an already tight global memory-chip market.
The union said it still hoped Micron would present a concrete proposal for permanent profit-sharing before workers resort to a strike.
It is also encouraging members to take part in a rally in Taipei on October 19, although the union said the planned protest would not amount to a strike.
Micron employs about 15,000 people in Taiwan, with separate unions representing workers at its Taoyuan and Taichung facilities. The two unions together represent more than 80 per cent of the company’s Taiwanese workforce.
The dispute centres on rewards Micron announced in September for more than 60,000 employees worldwide following what the company described as an “extraordinary year”.
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Workers in Taiwan received a cash bonus of up to T$1 million, equivalent to about $31,386, but the Taoyuan union said the payment did not meet its demand for a permanent profit-sharing arrangement.
The union also criticised the timing of the announcement, saying Micron unveiled the rewards while mediation with the union was still ongoing without first reaching an agreement.
Mediation between Micron and the Taoyuan union ended without a deal in September, while negotiations with the Taichung union are continuing.
Micron said it takes employees’ concerns seriously and remains committed to engaging with its unions through established dialogue and mediation processes.
The company is expected to hold another mediation session with the Taichung union later this month as both sides seek to resolve the dispute.
Taiwan’s labour ministry said it respected the strike vote and urged Micron to address workers’ concerns, put forward concrete proposals and continue negotiations with the union.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
