Strike Notice Issued by Samsung India Workers' Union at Sriperumbudur Plant
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Synopsis
On April 3, 2025, the Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam issued a 14-day strike notice to the management of the Sriperumbudur plant, demanding reinstatement of suspended workers, union recognition, and wage agreements.
Key Takeaways
- 14-day strike notice issued by union
- Demands for reinstatement of suspended workers
- Challenge to Samsung India Welfare Federation
- Call for secret ballot to determine majority
- Indefinite strike threatened if demands are unmet
Chennai, April 3 (NationPress) The Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam, which is affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), has formally issued a 14-day strike notice to the management of the Samsung factory located in Tamil Nadu's Sriperumbudur.
This action follows the conclusion of a month-long protest by the union on March 7.
The Sangam's demands include the reinstatement of 23 suspended workers, acknowledgment of their union, and a definitive wage agreement.
Additionally, they have contested the legitimacy of a newly formed group - the Samsung India Welfare Federation - which, as claimed by the Sangam, has entered into a wage agreement with the company.
The strike notice was co-signed by Sangam President E. Muthukumar and Secretary P. Ellan, calling on the company to withdraw complaints against the suspended workers and to restore them immediately. The notice also highlighted that the Sangam represents the majority of the workforce and deserves formal recognition from Samsung.
Furthermore, the union demanded the immediate distribution of ex-gratia payments and urged the company to conduct a secret ballot to ascertain which workers' body - the Sangam or the Federation - holds majority support among the employees.
Should these demands not be fulfilled, the Sangam warned that its members would initiate an indefinite strike once the 14-day notice period concludes.
The Samsung India Workers’ Union (SIWU), backed by the CITU, had previously conducted a month-long protest that wrapped up on March 7, 2025. The union asserted that the company had promised to reinstate the suspended workers following appeals from government officials and company representatives.
Among the 1,800 employees at the Sriperumbudur plant, roughly 1,000 participated in the strike, while about 800 continued their work.
During the earlier protests, Tamil Nadu Police arrested numerous union leaders affiliated with the CITU from their homes and dismantled a protest tent outside the company premises. However, workers persisted with their demonstration at a nearby alternative location, where hundreds gathered in defiance of police orders to disperse. Heated exchanges took place between protesters and police personnel.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist, allied with the DMK in the INDIA coalition, strongly condemned the police action against striking workers and union leaders.
Tamil Nadu Industries Minister T.R.B. Rajaa urged employees to resume work, assuring them that the state government and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would support the union's cause. He indicated that the Sangam would receive recognition once the court made a ruling on the issue. Minister Rajaa, son of prominent DMK leader and former Union Minister T.R. Baalu, also noted that the company had committed to enhancing facilities, including improving food quality and installing air-conditioning and secure locks in the 108 buses used for worker transportation.
Despite these assurances, the striking workers rejected a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by a workers’ committee, with CITU leaders asserting that the MoA favored the company.
