Samsung employees end over month-long strike

CHENNAI: Samsung India Employees’ Union has ended its over-a-month-long strike and hundreds of workers are expected to return to work on Thursday.
Tamil Nadu govt on Tuesday said all issues have been resolved amicably and both parties have signed an agreement, adding that various demands of the striking workers have been accepted by the company. Nearly 14 demands of workers were accepted by the company at the end of conciliatory talks held on October 7.
Union president E Muthukumar told TOI on Tuesday that talks were satisfactory and the workers’ general body meeting on Wednesday will decide on the matter. It is understood that the union is expected to call off the strike, subject to workers’ acceptance, which is only a formality and likely to be obtained at the general meeting.
Chief minister MK Stalin, in a post on X , thanked Center for Indian Trade Unions representatives, workers and the management for resolving the matter. Reiterating his support for the workers, he urged both parties to work towards a new beginning and a better future. He added that the DMK govt always stands for workers’ rights and welfare, and will never deviate from this principle.
The latest development comes after senior ministers of TN govt held conciliatory talks with workers and company representatives at the secretariat on Tuesday.
A Samsung India spokesperson said that workers have decided to return to work unconditionally. Their statement did not touch upon the Oct 7 agreement signed by the company with workers, and conceding several demands of workers.
“We will not take action against workers who merely participated in the illegal strike. We are committed to work closely with our workers to make the Chennai factory a great place to work,” the company said, adding that it welcomes CITU‘s decision to call off the illegal strike.
State PWD minister E V Velu said that the protesting workers agreed to end their strike on Wednesday and to return to work on Thursday. He said the matter regarding recognition of the CITU-backed union is sub-judice and that the state govt will abide by the court’s directions.
(With inputs from Yazhinian)