Samsung workers return to Sriperumbudur plant as month-long strike ends

This is the second major strike at the Sriperumbudur plant, following a 37-day protest in September 2022 that demanded better wages, improved working conditions, and official SIWU recognition, resolved with state government intervention

Following multiple rounds of talks between the management and the union, a month-long strike by the CITU-backed Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) at the company’s manufacturing unit in Sriperumbudur came to an end on Friday (March 7), with workers beginning to return to their duties.

The strike, which had commenced on February 5, was initially sparked by the suspension of three key union office bearers. The situation escalated when workers moved their protest from a designated area within the premises to the shop floor, demanding the removal of contract workers allegedly hired by the company to replace striking employees.

Despite CITU's initial demand for the revocation of suspensions for 23 workers before the strike could be called off, sources indicate that an internal inquiry will now be conducted by Samsung. The company has agreed to allow protesting employees to resume work after attending a one-day training program. In a significant shift, workers are returning in batches, and Samsung has not required them to sign an undertaking, as it had previously insisted on for the participants in what it had termed an “illegal strike.”

Labour dispute resolution reached after prolonged negotiations

The workers’ strike initially began when SIWU members staged a sit-in protest after the suspension of the union’s office bearers. Tensions mounted as workers moved their protest to the shop floor and disrupted production, demanding the removal of contract workers, which the company had brought in as replacements. By February 20, Samsung had suspended 20 additional workers after an alleged attempt by a group of workers to breach senior management’s office.

The protests continued outside the factory premises after February 20, where striking workers joined forces with other demonstrators, including CITU members, who had staged a parallel protest outside the plant. A total of at least 10 rounds of negotiations between the workers and the management failed before an agreement was reached to end the strike.

This is the second significant strike at the Sriperumbudur plant. A similar protest occurred in September 2022, lasting 37 days, demanding better wages, improved working conditions, and official recognition for SIWU. The protest was resolved after state government intervention.