Samsung Electronics resumed wage negotiations with its largest labor union as management sought to prevent an operational shutdown, helping lift the company’s shares by as much as 6.7%. The dispute remains centered on performance bonuses tied to AI hardware profits during a boom in memory demand. The union, which has more than 46,000 members and had signaled an 18-day strike beginning Thursday, is seeking performance-based payouts equal to 15% of operating income, the removal of bonus caps, and a formal compensation plan. According to Yonhap, Samsung proposed allocating 10% of operating profits to employee bonuses along with a one-time special compensation package. Samsung also replaced chief negotiator Vice President Kim Hyung-ro with Yeo Myung-koo for the current talks. A Korean court approved a restraining order against prospective unlawful union actions, reducing investor concerns, while South Korean leaders including President Lee Jae-myung and Prime Minister Kim Min-seok urged both sides to reach a settlement. Kim warned that a strike could cause direct losses of up to 1 trillion won, or about $664.7 million, and potentially much larger cumulative losses if semiconductor production is disrupted.