After 38 days of intense protests, workers at Samsung Electronics have decided to end their strike and return to work. The breakthrough came following a series of conciliation talks between the Tamil Nadu government, union leaders, and company management, culminating in an agreement aimed at addressing workers’ grievances.
The strike, which began on September 9, saw over 1,500 employees at Samsung’s facility in Sunguvarchatiram, Kanchipuram district, demanding wage hikes, union recognition, and an eight-hour workday. A Soundararajan, General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), confirmed the strike’s withdrawal, emphasizing that workers would resume their duties from October 17.
Soundararajan said that the company must refrain from retaliating against employees who participated in the protest. “The management has assured that no worker will face punitive action for joining the strike. It is crucial that both sides now cooperate for smooth operations, with the company adhering to legal norms in its administration,” he said.
The resolution followed a meeting at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat, where four state ministers and Labour Department officials mediated between the management and union representatives. “We have issued recommendations for the company to follow, and both sides have agreed to these terms. This agreement provides a way forward based on mutual respect and trust,” Soundararajan added.
The Tamil Nadu government announced that, as part of the resolution, Samsung management had committed to implementing welfare measures for the workers. “Following the Chief Minister’s directives, key ministers and department officials conducted meetings at various stages to resolve the dispute amicably,” the government statement said.
During the final round of negotiations, the Labour Department facilitated an agreement between the two parties. The management agreed to submit a formal response to the workers’ demands through the labour department while committing to good-faith cooperation with employees. Workers, in turn, pledged to support the administration in restoring normal operations at the plant.
The Samsung factory, located on the outskirts of Chennai, is a significant employer in the region, with over 1,500 employees engaged in its operations. The continuous strike had disrupted production, prompting the government to intervene to bring both sides to the table.
On October 15, the government confirmed that an understanding had been reached, and the striking employees would return to work immediately. “Both the company and the workers have agreed to work together without any further escalation, ensuring a smooth transition back to normalcy,” the Labour Department’s statement said.
(Inputs from ANI)