Micron workers vote to strike at Taiwan plant

Unionised workers at a Micron Technology plant in Taoyuan, Taiwan, voted in favour of strike action on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The vote followed a breakdown in negotiations over bonus reforms with the US memory chip maker. Micron produces around 50% to 60% of its chips in Taiwan, where it employs roughly 15,000 workers across its Taoyuan and Taichung facilities.

At the Taoyuan site, 2,012 of 2,258 eligible union members cast ballots, with 1,994 voting in favour of striking, 14 against, and four invalid ballots. Chen Yen-kai, union secretary at the plant, said the union secured the legal right to strike and set up picket lines. Two unions represent nearly 12,000 workers across both locations. However, the union representing roughly 11,000 workers at the larger Taichung site told AFP that talks with Micron will proceed as scheduled.

The labour organisations are demanding a one-off bonus equal to 83 months of salary, alongside a permanent framework allocating 15% of operating profits to staff bonuses paid quarterly instead of annually. Workers rejected Micron's offer last month of up to 68 months of pay, describing it as insufficient and lagging behind competitors. In South Korea, Samsung Electronics averted a strike by agreeing to distribute bonuses equal to 10.5% of operating profit to semiconductor staff, making about 78,000 of its 125,000 domestic workers eligible for around US$370,000 each this year based on market estimates.

Demand for artificial intelligence memory chips has boosted Micron's financial results. The company reported record revenue of about US$133 billion for fiscal 2026, an increase of 256% from US$37 billion the previous year. Micron has invested over 1.6 trillion New Taiwan dollars, or US$50 billion, in Taiwan, which it calls a critical hub.