SEOUL, May 20 (Reuters) - Samsung Electronics ( SSNLF )

and its South Korean labour union reached a

preliminary pay deal on Wednesday, potentially averting a

planned lengthy strike that threatened to disrupt the production

of AI and other chips.

The labour union said it had decided to suspend a general

strike and put the tentative agreement to a vote by union

members.

The vote will take place from May 23 to May 28, according

to the union's website.