Samsung standoff: CITU issues strike notice in 42 factories in Sriperumbudur to 'exert pressure'

The CITU is also planning to issue strike notices to more companies in Sriperumbudur-Oragadam belt where it has a presence.

Chennai: With the Samsung India management unrelenting, the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has escalated its protest against the South Korean electronics major by issuing strike notices in at least 42 manufacturing units, including Hyundai, Britannia, and Apollo Tyres, in Kanchipuram district.

The CITU is also planning to issue strike notices in more companies in Sriperumbudur-Oragadam belt where it has a presence.

The strike is likely to commence on March 13 or March 14 in all the factories where notices have been issued to “exert pressure” on Samsung India management, which has been refusing to revoke the suspension of three of its employees. Members of the CITU-affiliated Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) have been holding a sit-in protest for the past weeks demanding that their colleagues should be taken back at work.

“We have issued strike notice in 42 manufacturing units in Sriperumbudur and Oragadam. We are likely to issue notices in more factories in the coming days. We were forced to take our struggle to other companies due to the rigid stance of the Samsung management,” E Muthukumar, president of SIWU, told DH.

The factories where notices have been issued include Hyundai Motor India, JK Tyres, Apollo Tyres, Yamaha, and Britannia. Muthukumar said the CITU will issue notices to a few more automobile companies in Sriperumbudur to join the strike.

The strike notices to over 40 factories is a major development that should worry the Tamil Nadu government, which has been attracting huge investments in many sectors, especially electronics. Muthukumar said the CITU resorted to such an extreme step after multiple rounds of talks with Samsung India management failed.

The workers, according to SIWU, were suspended by Samsung India for involving themselves in the formation of the Union. “The law says we have to give 14 days prior notice before we launch the strike. The strike will begin on March 13 or March 14,” Muthukumar added.

The factory has been beset with problems since September 9 when employees jumped into a protest that continued till October 14 over the recognition of the SIWU. The protest by CITU was called off after the state government intervened and brought Samsung India and the protesting workers across the table. However, the truce was short lived after employees alleged that they were being victimised for leading the protests and three were suspended for violating the company’s policies.

Samsung India had told DH last week that a section of workers once again illegally tried to disrupt operations and industrial peace on Thursday and that the company has a zero-tolerance policy for any illegal activities by workers that disrupt industrial stability and peace at the workplace.

The DMK dispensation is under attack for not intervening at the right time and putting an end to the crisis. The development comes at a time the Tamil Nadu government is bullish on attracting investments in the electronics sector as it continues to host more number of Apple Inc suppliers to the state.