People's Watch response to Samsung Statement, 7 January 2025

Samsung Protest Update

The indefinite strike by Samsung India Electronics Ltd employees at the Sriperumbudur plant near Chennai ended on October 17, 2024, after 37 days. The company welcomed the decision to call off the strike and assured that no action would be taken against the participating workers.

The Tamil Nadu government played a crucial role in facilitating discussions between the management and the workers, ultimately leading to this temporary resolution. The state intervened between September 12 and October 6 to facilitate discussions, appointing State Labour Minister CV Ganesan to lead the negotiations. A series of meetings brought together Samsung management and the striking workers to address the issues at hand.

A tripartite conciliation meeting was held, involving the state government’s labour department, Samsung management, and representatives of the Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU). Management has provided written assurances regarding the charter of demands filed by the workers before the conciliation officer. A five-point resolution was adopted by both Samsung and the striking employees:

1. Immediate end of the strike
2. No punitive actions against the workers who participated in the strike
3. Wage increase of Rs. 5000
4. Reduction to a 7-hour working day with a 5-day work week
5. Increase in paternity leave from 3 days to 7 days

The striking workers also assured that they would cooperate with the management and refrain from any actions prejudicial to the interests of the company.

However, the central demand for official recognition of the Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) remains unresolved and is awaiting a court decision. And moreover, they have not quashed the complaints filed on the CITU members

The state president of CITU noted, “Samsung has historically maintained a “no-union” policy worldwide. Establishing a union in India is a notable achievement.”

"We recently received further information from the CITU that they are not abiding by the tripartite agreement. Out of the 1,450 workers who were striking, only 450 were allowed to return to work, while the other 1,000 have been barred from entering the factory. Furthermore, these 450 workers were asked to undergo training, which seems aimed at brainwashing them by emphasizing why they should not go to a third party, especially when the company has its own union, and internal matters should be resolved within the company."

Update on 5th December 2024

The Madras High Court on Thursday, December 5 gave the Tamil Nadu government six weeks’ time to decide on the registration of Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) at the company’s plant in Sriperumbadur near Chennai. A bench led by Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy directed the Registrar of Trade Unions to take a decision on the application filed in June.

According to the law, the union should have been registered within 45 days of sending the application to the Labour department.