Chennai, 25 February (H.S.): A labor dispute at Samsung's manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu has intensified, with talks between the company's management and workers' union breaking down. The dispute centers around disciplinary action taken by Samsung against several employees, which the workers' union claims is unfair.
Yet another round of talks between representatives of Samsung India and the CITU-backed Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) failed on Monday. Samsung India continues to remain firm in its decision to initiate disciplinary action against 23 workers, forcing CITU to regroup to decide its next course of action, sources said.
While CITU’s main demand during the last few conciliatory talks has been for the suspension of the workers to be dropped in order to call off the protests, representatives from Samsung categorically informed them that it was not possible to reconsider the suspension, sources party to the talks said.
“On Tuesday, our members plan on going to the office of the Inspector of Factories at Sriperumbudur and submit a petition on the continued unlawful engagement (by Samsung) of contract workers in production,” said E Muthukumar, CITU Kancheepuram secretary.
The workers' union has been protesting the suspensions and terminations, calling for the company to revoke its disciplinary action. However, Samsung has refused to budge, leading to a stalemate in negotiations. The union has threatened to intensify its protests if the company does not meet its demands.
The labor dispute has raised concerns about working conditions and labor rights at Samsung's Tamil Nadu plant. The company has maintained that its disciplinary action was taken in accordance with its policies and procedures. However, the workers' union claims that the company is engaging in unfair labor practices.
The standoff between Samsung and its workers' union is likely to continue, with no resolution in sight. The dispute has highlighted the need for better labor protections and working conditions in India's manufacturing sector.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Dr. R. B. Chaudhary
