Samsung Workers End 37-Day Strike at Sriperumbudur Factory After Reconciliation Talks

The 37-day strike called at the Sriperumbudur plant of Samsung India by the latter's workers, who have been protesting against management, ended on Tuesday. This the state Labour Department announced on September 9.

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

The strike was withdrawn Tuesday following multiple rounds of talks at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat between the state government, leaders of CITU, and Samsung India management.
According to sources, a breakthrough occurred when senior DMK functionary and state minister E.V. Velu intervened in the talks and joined the negotiations.

According to sources from the company, the agreement includes hike in wages agreed upon earlier as well as no action against the disciplinary charges against the agitating employees.

However, one of the major issues relating to the registration of its union, which CPI-M-backed Central Trade Union Centre, CITU raised, is not part of this agreement.

The management said in discussions with Tamil Nadu ministers that the matter is already before the Madras High Court and a decision shall be taken after the verdict of the court.

The workers and management agreed that, depending on the judicial verdict of the case, an attempt to register the union could be made.

The CITU, however, agreed to call off the strike after the Tamil Nadu government came forward and assured that it would be instrumental in getting the union registered within the company. According to sources within CITU, representatives from the management and the striking workers agreed that all the workers would forthwith call off the strike and return to work. The Samsung India management is reported to have assured CITU sources that when workers report back, none of them would be victimised for having gone on strike. The workers, however, agreed to fully cooperate with the management and refrain from any actions prejudicial to the management's interests upon their return to work.

The management, CITU further said, would also issue a written response to the charter of demands submitted by the workers to the conciliation officer.

However, the trade union body reportedly claimed that the strike will be officially withdrawn on Wednesday in a general body meeting held for the Samsung India Workers' Union. According to CITU leaders, all of their demands have been accepted by the government and the company, which is why the strike is being withdrawn.