Micron Taiwan Staff Rally Over 2026 Bonus Plan, Union Threatens Strike

The labor dispute at memory chip maker Micron Technology in Taiwan is escalating. On Thursday, hundreds of local employees held a rally. Micron relies on its Taiwan plants for about 50% to 60% of its chip production, and the company is negotiating pay issues with two unions representing nearly 12,000 workers at its Taoyuan and Taichung plants. The unions said they will strike if state-mediated labor talks break down.

Micron previously said Taiwan employees will receive bonuses equal to 35 to 68 months' wages for fiscal 2026, with minimum cash compensation of NT$1.7 million, or about RMB 360,000. The unions are demanding a one-time bonus equal to 83 months' wages and a permanent system that distributes 15% of the company's operating profit to employees as bonuses, paid quarterly rather than annually.

The dispute is directly linked to strike events in South Korea's chip industry. In early 2026, Samsung Electronics agreed to pay its semiconductor employees bonuses equal to 10.5% of operating profit, averting a strike. Subsequently, TSMC and Micron Technology, as well as industries outside South Korean semiconductors, have seen a growing number of rallies demanding better benefits. As artificial intelligence development drives revenue growth at global chip companies, employees are demanding a larger share of profits.