Samsung Workers Call Off Strike After Extensive Meeting With Company, TN Govt | Explained

The employees at consumer electronic giant Samsung located in Tamil Nadu have called off their strike after 37 days and it was reportedly followed by extensive discussions between the representatives of the worker union, the company and state government.

The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday issued a statement which confirmed about the end of the strike and also added that the Samsung management has agreed to several 'welfare measures' in the interest of the workers which led to resolvement of the issue.

Samsung Assures Not Taking Action Against Workers Who 'Merely' Participated In Strikes

A Samsung India spokesperson told media that the company welcomed the decision of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) to call off the strike.

Besides, it also assured not to take action against workers who merely participated in the strike, which Samsung termed as "illegal" and said it is committed to work closely with them to "make the Chennai factory a great place to work".

"Samsung India welcomes CITU's decision to call off the illegal strike. We thank the government of Tamil Nadu for its support and welcome our workers who have decided to return to work unconditionally. We will not take action against workers who merely participated in the illegal strike," said the spokesperson.

A one-page statement added that all the striking workers will immediately return to work and Samsung will not take any disciplinary action against striking employees. Workers also agreed not to take any "pre-judicial" action.

Moreover, the Samsung management will file a written reply to the charter of demands filed by the workers before the conciliation officer.

"Both the parties have accepted this advice. The workers informed that they would call off the strike immediately and return to work," said the statement, adding, "Thus the strike at the Samsung factory has come to an end and all the workers are resuming work."

Samsung had already accepted majority of the demands put forth by the striking workers led by trade union body CITU. However, the issue of giving recognition to the workers' union remained unresolved.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had recently instructed Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises T M Anbarasan, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development C V Ganesan, Minister for Industries T R B Rajaa, and Minister for Public Works E V Velu to hold talks with Samsung India and the agitating workers.

The decision to call off the strike was taken at the conciliatory meeting which was held at the office of the Department of Labour Welfare in Chennai on Tuesday, in which representatives from Samsung India and the striking workers took part, it added.

Why Were Samsung Workers On Strike?

About 1,100 workers of the total 1,750 employees of Samsung India had been on strike since September 9 to press for various demands which included wage revision, better work conditions, and registration of the newly-formed Samsung India Workers Union backed by CITU by the labour department.

A section of workers of Samsung India Electronics along with CITU leaders were arrested on Thursday after they tried to stage a protest without obtaining permission, police said, adding that they were released later.

Samsung manufactures appliances and consumer durable products such as refrigerators, TVs, and washing machines at its facility near Chennai.

This facility contributes to nearly one-fifth of Samsung's revenue, which was at Rs 96,628.90 crore (nearly USD 12 billion) in FY23, as per the company's latest financial report.

Samsung India also has a plant at Noida in Uttar Pradesh, where it manufactures smartphones.

(With PTI inputs)