Labor disputes and unionization in Taiwan’s semiconductor industry highlight growing worker discontent over the unequal distribution of profits from the AI boom.
Funny how the AI boom is supposedly about replacing workers, yet the entire industry still depends on people keeping the chip factories running. Executives get record profits, shareholders get soaring valuations, and the people making it possible have to strike for a fair share. Perhaps the real disruption is workers discovering their leverage.
People have always had to strike for a fair share. Firms do not pay what is “fair” according to their profits. They pay what’s “fair” in the labour market they get people from. Where “fair” is as low as they can get away with.
Funny how the AI boom is supposedly about replacing workers, yet the entire industry still depends on people keeping the chip factories running. Executives get record profits, shareholders get soaring valuations, and the people making it possible have to strike for a fair share. Perhaps the real disruption is workers discovering their leverage.
People have always had to strike for a fair share. Firms do not pay what is “fair” according to their profits. They pay what’s “fair” in the labour market they get people from. Where “fair” is as low as they can get away with.