The month-long strike by workers of Samsung India at the Sriperumbudur factory has now been withdrawn after the company agreed to reinstate them. Sources said that this was possible after efforts by officials of the state government and Samsung to urge protesting workers to restart work.
In a circular put by the company outside the premises on Friday noon, the management said that the illegal strike in which certain group of workers had participated has been withdrawn with effect from today (March 7) as per the workers communication mail dated March 5. Considering the workers request to unblock their IDs and as per our management communication mail dated March 6, we will organise a training programme batch wise, the company added. The training schedule of the individual shall be communicated through individual email and will commence from March 8. The company officials said workers could not be allowed today as they required time to do the process of providing the access cards.
It also advised workers not to resort to any illegal activities in future and noted that the 23 workers who are kept under the Suspension Pending Enquiry, shall undergo the Disciplinary Action Proceedings. The suspended workers will not be allowed inside, and their case will be dealt with at a later stage, said sources.
Workers also had to sign a form stating that they had participated in the strike and requesting the company to re-activate their access cards. CITU leaders A Soundararajan and E Muthukumar, were present outside the factory along with the workers. “We have told the workers not to sign any paper inside the factory. We don’t know what the management plans to do inside once the workers move in. We will wait and see. We will also protest against the company trying to encourage its internal committee and suppress the Sangham,” CITU’s Soundararajan told businessline. On what will happen to the 23 suspended employees Muthukumar said that issue would be dealt with at the reconciliation meeting before the labour department.
The strike by over 1,000 workers belonging to the new CITU-backed Samsung India Thozilalargal Sangam was in protest over suspension of 23 workers belonging to the union. On Thursday evening, talks between the union and the management in front of the labour department officials failed. Subsequently, around 7 am on Friday, over 500 ‘protesting’ workers assembled outside the factory. Many police personnel were deployed outside the factory. The factory manufactures washing machines and air conditioners.
“Despite our best efforts to arrive at a mutually beneficial agreement through constructive dialogue, the union continues to make unreasonable demands and is changing its position constantly, leading to an impasse in the negotiations. We uphold a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal acts within the workplace and are committed to maintaining a safe and productive environment for all,” a Samsung India spokesperson on Thursday after the talks.
The reconciliation talks are expected to continue March 12.