Samsung Worker’s Protest Still hasn’t came to an End

Last updated on October 10th, 2024 at 08:56 am

A month-long protest was taken by the workers at Samsung’s Sriperumbudur unit near Chennai, who have been protesting since September 9. Out of 1,800 workers 1,500 are on strike. This protest demands better wages, reduced working hours, better work environment and union recognition. Samsung, a Korean based electronic facility was established in 2007 which manufactures televisions, refrigerators and washing machines. 

As the 31st day protest continued today, the police went cracking down on the workers by arresting them and by dispersing them from the protest site. Besides this, the police also arrested 10 officers of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) in the middle of the night at their homes amid the resistance. Alongside, the police also dismantled the shelter overnight which was created for protest and gone without any notice.  

Even with such hindrance, the Samsung workers continued their protest in an open space on Wednesday at their original protest site which is a kilometre away from the Samsung Manufacturing plant. The Samsung workers are backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). On October 7, the government said Samsung India employees and its management signed a memorandum of agreement. But CITU said that the strike will continue as the company refused to recognise the union.

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Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said the State government is not trying to stop the worker’s protest and the police had taken action only over protests held without permission. “Samsung has objected to the CITU union. The matter is in court now and is sub-judice,” he said. He also mentioned that the State government respectes the sentiments of Samsung workers and that it has no intention to limit their rights. The arrested workers have been released, he added. 

Videos of police arresting union leaders and questioning passengers on buses regarding their destination to make sure not to let more people join the protest has been going viral on social media since wednesday. 

Tamil Nadu Minister for Industries T.R.B. Rajaa requested the protesting Samsung employees to go back to work, promising them that their CITU-backed union will be recognised after the court delivers its verdict. He added that the State government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin stood by them. Further he adds that it would be a dishonour to continue the strike after the intervention of the Chief Minister. He also pointed out that the management is ready to fulfil the needs of the workers by providing high-quality food, standard locks and air-conditioning of all 108 buses. But still the workers continue their strike saying that the (MOA) agreement is in favour of the company.