Samsung Electronics has asked a court to prohibit illegal strike actions and define the minimum staffing required for semiconductor wafer manufacturing [1].
The legal move comes as the company seeks to prevent catastrophic damage to sensitive production equipment and wafers during an upcoming labor dispute. Because semiconductor fabrication requires extreme precision, any disruption to the environment could result in massive financial losses and production delays.
Samsung filed the application with the Suwon District Court on April 16 [1]. Two hearings have already been held regarding the matter [1]. The company is specifically requesting that the court mandate a minimum level of production-maintenance staff to remain on duty [1].
In court, the company said that wafers can be damaged if conditions such as temperature, power, or vibration fluctuate even slightly [1]. Samsung cited the Samsung Biologics case as a legal precedent to support its request for an injunction to protect essential operations [1].
The labor union disagrees with the company's assessment of the required staffing levels. The union said that equipment protection can be achieved using only maintenance personnel [1].
This legal battle centers on the definition of "essential" services within a high-tech manufacturing environment. A strike is currently scheduled for May 21 [1]. The court's decision will determine how much of the workforce must remain at their posts to prevent technical failure while the union exercises its right to strike.
“Wafers can be damaged if conditions such as temperature, power, or vibration fluctuate even slightly.”
This case highlights the tension between labor rights and the technical vulnerabilities of the semiconductor industry. Unlike traditional manufacturing, chip fabrication involves continuous, fragile processes where a brief power or temperature dip can scrap entire batches of wafers. The court's ruling will set a critical precedent for how 'essential services' are defined in the AI era, balancing the union's leverage with the company's need to protect multi-billion dollar infrastructure.
