TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) and the Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council (AZBTC) announced they have reached an agreement that resolves a longstanding labor dispute in a joint statement released Wednesday (Dec. 6).
The collaboration includes the launch of employee training programs and a commitment to transparency on workplace safety issues at TSMC’s Phoenix semiconductor manufacturing facility.
The deal follows months of discussions and is seen as a critical step for TSMC, which is expected to be among the first beneficiaries of the US＄100 billion in subsidies provided by the U.S. Chips Act.
With approximately 3,000 AZBTC members working at TSMC’s Phoenix site, they represent about one-quarter of the local construction workforce. Under the new agreement, TSMC has agreed to prioritize local hiring but retains the option to employ foreign workers with "specialist experience" as necessary to meet its workforce needs.
TSMC’s investment in Arizona totals US＄40 billion, with construction having commenced in 2021. The company originally planned to begin mass production in 2024, but in July of this year, it delayed the production timeline to 2025. TSMC chief executive officer C.C. Wei reiterated in October that mass production is expected to start in the first half of 2025.
This resolution promises to not only pave the way for smoother progress in the construction and setup of TSMC’s plant but also underscores the company's role as a central player in the global tech industry's push for increased semiconductor production capabilities in the United States.
