The month-long strike by the Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) at the firm’s manufacturing unit in Sriperumbudur, Chennai, has ended, with workers returning to their jobs on Friday.
SIWU, backed by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), called off the strike after Samsung management agreed to reinstate the striking workers.
“Our workers resumed work from today (Friday) without any conditions,” E Muthukumar, president of SIWU, told FE.
The decision to end the strike came just a day after the union warned that over 1,000 workers would march to the plant, following yet another failed round of negotiations between SIWU and Samsung management on Thursday.
Initially, CITU had insisted that the company revoke the suspension of 23 workers before calling off the strike. However, the union has now agreed to a fair internal inquiry against these workers. Samsung, in turn, has allowed other protesting employees to return to work, helping to resolve the impasse.
In a notice outside its plant, Samsung India management said the “illegal strike” involving certain workers had been withdrawn as of March 7.
“Considering the workers’ request to unblock their IDs and as per management communication dated March 6, we will organise a training programme batchwise,” the notice read. The training schedule, other than the 23 suspended workers, will begin on March 8.
“The workers under Suspension Pending Enquiry shall undergo Disciplinary Action Proceedings. Workers are advised not to engage in any illegal activities in the future,” the notice further stated.
Muthukumar said the union is prepared to face disciplinary action as per the law regarding the suspended workers and will also file a case against the labour department, calling the suspensions “unfair and punitive.” Another round of reconciliation talks regarding 23 suspended workers is scheduled on March 12.
The strike began on February 5 when a section of SIWU-affiliated workers launched a sit-in protest following the suspension of three key union office bearers. According to Samsung sources, the suspension action came after a group allegedly attempted to forcibly enter senior management’s office. Later, the situation escalated when workers moved their demonstration from a designated protest site within the factory to the shop floor, demanding the removal of contract workers allegedly engaged by management. In response, Samsung suspended 20 additional workers. At least ten rounds of negotiations failed before the strike was finally called off.
“Samsung welcomes the workers’ decision to call off the illegal strike and resume their duties at the Chennai plant,” a Samsung India spokesperson said. They added that the company’s efforts to engage with workers and facilitate their return helped bring the strike to an end. “We remain committed to enforcing discipline in the premises and resolving outstanding issues directly with our workers to maintain a positive work environment.”
The resolution of the strike comes at a critical time for the consumer electronics company, as it gears up to meet peak summer demand. One of Samsung’s largest manufacturing facilities in India, the Chennai plant employs nearly 2,000 workers and produces TVs, air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and compressors. The facility contributes about a third of Samsung India’s annual $12 billion revenue.