Samsung India Strike: Tensions Rise As Police Arrest Union Leaders During Ongoing Protest

Earlier, CITU State President A. Soundararajan cautioned that there could be significant political repercussions if management fails to meet the workers' demands and the protest continues

Samsung India employees affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) marked the 31st day of their ongoing protest at Sunguvarchatram in Sriperumbudur, close to Chennai, on Wednesday. Tension flared up in the protest, and the police intervened by arresting several workers and dispersing the crowd at the protest site.

The police were compelled to detain several protesting workers after a scuffle broke out when officers requested that they clear certain areas. According to the CPM Tamil Nadu Unit, both CITU State President A. Soundararajan and a CITU Union leader were among those detained.

Earlier, CITU State President A. Soundararajan cautioned that there could be significant political repercussions if management fails to meet the workers' demands and the protest continues.

"In the last 30 days, we have not involved any political party. Now, as we have asked for their support, they have started coming, and this will take its political course. Many political ramifications will be there," Soundararajan told ANI.

The Tamil Nadu government has urged the protesting workers to return to their jobs promptly, emphasising the importance of considering the welfare of their fellow employees. On Monday, Samsung announced it had reached a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with some employees to address the ongoing protest. 

However, CITU leaders alleged that the MoA was signed with workers not participating in the strike. They further stated that the strike would continue since their primary demand—the recognition of the newly formed Samsung India Workers' Union (SIWU)—remains unmet.

The MoA was established between the company and the workers' committee, outlining that the company would implement measures to enhance wage competitiveness in consultation with the committee. As an immediate step, recognising the current financial challenges, Samsung will provide an interim special incentive called the "Productivity Stabilisation Incentive," amounting to Rs 5,000 per month, effective from October 2024 to March 2025.

Earlier this month, the CITU organised a 'road roko' across Tamil Nadu, involving over 900 workers in the Kanchipuram district, where police reportedly detained some participants before releasing them later that night. A case has been filed against the workers under eight different sections.

The strike began on September 9, 2024, with hundreds of workers at Samsung India's manufacturing facility in Sriperumbudur demanding recognition of the SIWU and a wage increase. Of the 1,800 workers at the facility, approximately 1,000 participated in the protest, although the company reported that production remained unaffected.