Why workers at Samsung's Tamil Nadu plant are striking again
What's the story
A group of workers at Samsung's Sriperumbudur facility near Chennai, has gone on a strike after three of their colleagues were suspended.
The strikers claim that the suspensions were unjust and were motivated by the employees' membership in the newly-formed Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU).
However, Samsung claims that the suspensions were due to disciplinary issues.
Company response
Stance on employee suspensions
Defending its decision to suspend the three employees, the company claimed that these people were pressuring other plant workers to protest against it.
In a statement, the South Korean tech giant highlighted its global code of conduct and zero-tolerance policy toward any behavior that disrupts a professional and respectful workplace environment.
Ongoing negotiations
Efforts to resolve employee issues
Despite the ongoing strike, Samsung has said it is continuing to work toward resolving issues with its protesting employees.
The company also clarified that it "has not forced any employee...to leave the union."
The statement comes amid allegations from an anonymous employee who claimed that the management had insinuated a preference for workers not joining or representing themselves through unions.
Past conflicts
History of employee-management tension at Samsung
Notably, the ongoing strike is not the first time Samsung's employees have clashed with management.
Back in September 2024, more than 1,100 workers from the same plant had gone on strike for over a month.
They had called for better pay, privileges, and the right to form a union for representation.
These protests were spearheaded by the then-unrecognized SIWU.
Management actions
Samsung's response to previous worker demands
In the wake of the 2024 strike, Samsung's management conceded to some of the workers' demands and constituted a "workmen committee."
The company also promised more employee benefits like leave and insurance.
After this, the Madras High Court ordered that SIWU be registered under the Tamil Nadu Labour Department.
This latest standoff between employees and management at Samsung's Sriperumbudur plant shows that the two parties have unresolved issues.