Samsung Workers Struggle for the Right to Unionisation

After a prolonged struggle for the right to unionisation, the Samsung India Workers Union was registered by the registrar of Trade Unions. The inspiring battle by the Samsung Workers thus has marched a step ahead. The workers celebrated the victory of their movement. 

This definitely was a setback for authorities of Samsung India plant at Sriperumbudur in Chennai who left no stone unturned to refuse their statutory right to unionisation. The management resorted to unfair labour practices to eliminate the union chosen by the majority of workers in the plant. The management itself formed a committee with few workers loyal to the management and started canvassing among workers to join the management sponsored union. The management used the tactics of both intimidation and incentives to establish the “committee” promoted by themselves.  A sum of Rs. 3 lakhs interest free loan was offered if workers deserted the Union and joined the management sponsored one. 

The unionised workers were subjected to various forms of intimidation. When workers organised a rally to the office of the Managing Director (MD) to apprise him of their sufferings, they were not only denied an audience with the MD, but three office bearers of the union were also suspended. Enraged by the act of the management, workers struck work and started a stay in strike by assembling near the shop floor.

The management erected barricades and curtains around the are of workers assembly in order to make the production line invisible to the striking workers. As a part of the ongoing unfair labour practices, the Samsung management has engaged contract workers in the regular and perennial jobs and has openly violated all applicable labour legislations. While continuing the stay-in strike, workers under CITU went on a procession to submit a petition to the District Collector on the unfair labour practices. When assembly lines were operated by contract workers and when no solution was in sight, workers on stay in strike entered the production lines. The police force was immediately deployed to stop the protesting workers entering the production line.  

In the meantime, the Samsung management suspended 20 more workers and announced deduction of 8 days of wages for every day of strike calling it an illegal strike.

While no action is initiated on a complaint by the union against the deployment of contract and casual workers, the police force was used to repress the protesting workers. The workers marched to the office of the Directorate of Factories to demand an Action Taken Report on their complaint and continued their sit in strike outside the premises of the factory. Their demands include reinstatement of 23 suspended workers, withdrawal of notice for deducting 8 days wages and an end to intimidation of unionised workers.

The Samsung management did not allow workers to enter the factory when the union decided to resume work after 15 days of strike. The management demanded an undertaking and apology from individual workers which was promptly refused. The union leaders A. Soundarrajan and Muthukumar led a rally captioned ”Sending Workers Inside the Factory“.
 
CITU called for a food boycott by its affiliated Unions in and around Samsung factory. Unions of various factories including Hyundai boycotted the lunch for a day. Also solidarity demonstrations were held in various factory gates in support of Samsung workers' demands.

In the subsequent conciliation proceedings before the Labour Commissioner, the Samsung management agreed to allow all workers inside the factory, except the suspended 23 workers. The management also constituted an enquiry proceedings against the 23 suspended workers. It was decided that final decision on the findings will be made before the Conciliation Officer.

The consistent struggle by Samsung India workers in Chennai is indeed an inspiration for the entire working class. From Pricol, Maruti-Suzuki to Samsung India - the valiant struggle by industrial workers for their right to unionisation will definitely push back the attempts of the corporate regime to deny basic rights of the working class.