Thousands of Samsung Electronics workers gathered at the company's main computer chip making complex in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, to demand higher bonuses. Union organizers estimated that up to 40,000 people attended the rally.
The protesters are seeking a greater share of the record profits Samsung has reaped from the current boom in artificial intelligence, which has significantly driven up memory-chip profits.
Unions have threatened a strike for 18 days starting May 21 if their demands are not met. Such a disruption could impact chip supplies amid the surging demand for artificial intelligence.