Samsung Labor Protests Threaten to Worsen Global RAM Shortage

The RAM shortage driven by demand from AI datacenters could worsen if Samsung labor protests cut production. Samsung is facing employee protests over demands for wages that are more competitive with rival chip manufacturer SK Hynix. According to AP News, an estimated 40,000 union members attended a rally on Thursday outside Samsung's Pyeongtaek, South Korea chip manufacturing facility. If the union and management cannot come to an agreement, the union is planning an 18-day strike beginning on May 21st. Output for Samsung's foundry and memory chips dropped 58 percent and 18 percent respectively during the overnight shift on Thursday as unionized workers attended the protest demanding higher wages. Over 70 percent of Samsung's South Korean workforce are union members, including over 90,000 employees. Samsung is currently the world's largest DRAM and NAND memory company, with SK Hynix close behind it in both markets. The RAM shortage is already predicted to last until 2030 and is driving up prices for SSDs. The 4TB version of the popular Samsung 990 Pro SSD costs nearly $1,000 now when it used to cost around $320.