The standoff between Samsung India’s management and striking workers at its Chennai plant is set to escalate. The workers’ union, backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), on Wednesday alleged that the company is threatening to suspend 18 more workers from the newly-formed Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU).
Representatives of the CITU-backed SIWU and the Samsung management held another round of conciliation talks on Wednesday in the presence of Tamil Nadu labour department officials. The talks, however, failed to resolve the deadlock.
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“We were ready to end the strike and return to work if the suspension orders against three of our SIWU workers were revoked,” E Muthukumar, CITU Kancheepuram secretary and SIWU president, told FE. “Instead, the management said they would take suspension action against 18 more workers,” he added.
Since February 5, over 500 Samsung workers have been staging a sit-in protest against the suspension of three SIWU office-bearers. The union was registered by the state labour welfare department after a 38-day strike and 212 days of legal battle.
“Samsung remains committed to resolving any issues by directly engaging with our workers. We do not condone illegal activities carried out by certain workers that threaten industrial peace and workplace safety. It is important for all employees to adhere to company policies, and those who violate these policies will be subject to disciplinary action after due legitimate process. Our priority is to maintain a safe and stable workplace for all workers,” a Samsung India spokesperson said.
Muthukumar, however, claimed that the Indian management ignored workers’ requests for four months. “Our workers tried to meet the company’s South Korean MD during lunch break, but they called it illegal assembly,” he said. “Production was affected for only half an hour, and our workers were willing to make up for it, but instead, the company chose to suspend them,” he added.
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He also alleged that Samsung has employed 1,400 temporary workers and formed a workers’ committee, both of which, he claimed, violate the Factories Act. The SIWU has called for protests across four State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) locations and Oragadam on February 21.
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