 "Police, Tamil Nadu govt and judiciary reeled into Samsung strike saga; resolution remains elusive")
The workers’ strike at Samsung’s plant in Tamil Nadu has been going on for 11 days now. In this time frame, the state government, the police, as well as a court has become involved.
A resolution to the problem, however, is still missing.
Samsung’s Indian unit has sued members of a labour union leading the indefinite strike at its home appliances plant in Tamil Nadu.
District court involved
According to Reuters, the lawsuit, dated September 12, sought a temporary injunction from a district court in Kancheepuram to prevent the union from engaging in protests near the factory.
In the court filing, the company said that union activities such as sloganeering and speeches could “disrupt the factory’s operations and prevent willing employees from fulfilling their duties,” potentially escalating into a safety risk for the workforce.
During a court hearing on Thursday (September 19), Samsung’s legal counsel argued that the union was preventing other employees from returning to work. The company’s lawyer also suggested that the dispute should be resolved through direct mediation with workers.
The union’s attorney countered that management was unwilling to meet the workers’ demands. The presiding judge, A. Saravanakumar, urged both parties to reach a settlement soon.
Tamil Nadu government’s involvement requested
Just a day before the court hearing, The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), a national labour group backing the workers, had called for government intervention, urging the Tamil Nadu Labour Department to officially recognise the Samsung India Workers Union.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsCITU said that that request has gone unanswered for 90 days, although the law stipulates a timeframe of 45 days for decisions, According to CITU state president A. Soundararajan
Samsung is reluctant to recognise any union affiliated with a national body like CITU, complicating negotiations.
The strike, which began on September 9, has disrupted production at the plant, which accounts for nearly one-third of Samsung’s $12 billion in annual revenue from India.
Police’s involvement in the strike
Prior to CITU’s plea to the government on Wednesday (September 17), the state police had detained over 100 protesters planning an unauthorised march on Monday (September 15).
Despite this, the protests continue, with other CITU-affiliated unions expressing solidarity with the striking workers.
The ongoing strike has drawn in hundreds of workers, who have set up a makeshift protest camp near the plant. Their demands include higher wages and formal recognition of the Samsung India Workers Union. The workers, who earn an average of Rs 25,000 ($300) per month, are seeking a raise to Rs 36,000 ($430) over three years.
Resolution still pending
Despite attempts at mediation, this labour unrest– one of the biggest in India in recent years– has yet to be resolved. More than 1,000 workers, out of the 1,800 employed at the Sriperumbudur plant, have participated in the strike, which is the first of its kind in the factory’s 16-year history.
The factory, located near Chennai, produces refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines. While the unrest has disrupted the production of home appliances, Samsung’s smartphone manufacturing plant in Uttar Pradesh remains unaffected.
With inputs from agencies
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