Samsung union threatens strike a month after ending protests

CHENNAI: Samsung employees union has threatened to go on a strike at the company’s plant near Chennai, just after a month of withdrawing the protests. The CITU-affiliated Samsung India Thozhilalar Sangam has issued a 14-day notice for strike on Wednesday, demanding revocation of suspension of employees and to stop alleged discriminatory practices and harassment towards union employees.

The union in a statement levelled various allegations against the Korean electronics maker, including making wage agreements with a worker group, and providing selective salary hikes to weaken the registered trade union.

It alleges that the company takes vindictive action against union employees, including giving excessive workloads for disabled workers and denying monetary benefits.

The union urged the company to “stop harassing employees to take up the wage offer, revoke wage agreements made with Samsung India Welfare Federation and to hold talks with the registered trade union.”

It demanded revoking suspension of 23 employees and allowing them back to work, among others.

This comes after a month-long protest in the manufacturing facility, including a sit-in protest inside the plant premises starting from Feb 5 against the suspension of employees and alleged vindictive actions. It later withdrew protests on March 7. Similarly, they protested for more than a month last year, which ended on Oct 16, 2024. Samsung did not respond to TOI’s query.