Samsung Employees Escalate Protests Near Chennai Over Wage and Union Issues

Samsung employees have been protesting for 12 days in Sungavachatiram near Chennai, demanding higher wages, union recognition, and an eight-hour workday. Ignoring a court directive, the strike continues with over 1500 employees participating. Union head Muthukumar states that talks with management have failed, and protests will persist until demands are met.

The Samsung employees' protest has entered its twelfth day in Sungavachatiram, near Sriperumbudur on the outskirts of Chennai in Kanchipuram District. Over 1,500 employees are engaged in a continuous strike, demanding higher wages, union recognition, and an eight-hour workday.

According to Muthukumar, Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CITU, the Samsung management filed a case in the Kanchipuram court to push the protestors 500 meters away from their premises, although they are already two kilometers away. Muthukumar stated, 'The Samsung management has wrongfully accused the striking employees of brainwashing those who continue to work.'

The trade unions have vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met. The CITU Tamil Nadu Secretary revealed that the management had previously asked the workers to disband their union and has been obstructing its recognition by raising various complaints.

Union head E. Muthukumar emphasized the workers' demands for better wages and improved working conditions. Hundreds of Samsung employees, dressed in their company uniforms, have been holding their ground outside the plant. He alleged that the management pressured employees to work up to 11 hours of overtime, even after the union decided to stop overtime work.

Previous rounds of talks with the state's labor department and labor minister have failed. On Monday, protestors were detained upon entering Kanchipuram but were released in the evening. A case has been filed against more than 100 employees.

(With inputs from agencies.)