AsianFin--Samsung Electronics’s largest labor union of more than 30,000 workers declared an indefinite strike, a surprise move that raises the risk of production disruptions at the world’s largest memory chipmaker.

The union representing workers at Samsung has called for a general strike, escalating a dispute with South Korea’s largest company. Thousands of workers gathered earlier this week outside Samsung’s chipmaking complexes south of Seoul, initiating what was initially planned as a three-day walkout demanding better pay.

This labor action marks the largest organized strike in the half-century history of the South Korean conglomerate. Although the total number of participants in the strike remains uncertain, there is concern that the movement could expand, potentially harming the nation’s most renowned corporation and inspiring similar actions across the recovering tech and chip industry.

"Management has no intention of dialogue," the union said on its website. "We have clearly identified line production disruptions, and the company will regret this decision." The union plans to first target a smaller 8-inch production facility, which relies more on human workers, before moving on to high-bandwidth memory production in Pyeongtaek. "Management will eventually relent and come to the negotiating table," the statement added.