A labor dispute at Samsung’s factory near Chennai, India, is escalating as workers continue their strike, demanding better working conditions and pay. Over 1,000 employees have been on strike since September 9th, pushing for a list of 20 demands, including a significant wage hike, recognition of their union, and a reduction in working hours to an eight-hour workday.
The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) Tamil Nadu Secretary, Muthukumar, stated on Monday that workers may take legal action if police continue to restrict their protests near the Samsung factory. The strike has seen several rounds of negotiations with Samsung management, but no agreement has been reached. Muthukumar explained that after attempts to march towards the collector’s office, workers were arrested by the police. He highlighted that Samsung management had initiated legal proceedings in a Kanchipuram court to prevent workers from protesting within a 500-meter radius of the factory, despite the protesters already being located two kilometers away.
The union has accused Samsung management of hindering union recognition by raising various complaints and pressuring workers to disband the union. Furthermore, they allege that Samsung management has been forcing workers to work overtime, exceeding 11 hours, even after the union had decided to stop overtime work.
The situation has reached a stalemate, with the first two rounds of talks with the state labor department and the labor minister ending in failure. The arrests of protesting workers on Monday, who were later released, further emphasize the tension surrounding the strike. With the legal action and continued protests, this labor dispute is expected to continue until a resolution is reached, raising important questions about worker rights and the role of unions in India’s industrial landscape.
