Labour department officials are concerned that the protests at Samsung’s plant near Chennai could potentially spread to other electronics manufacturing units in the area if the state government does not step in to resolve the strike, as it did with a Foxconn unit two years ago.
CHENNAI: Labour unrest at Samsung’s plant near Chennai intensified on Thursday as a district court began hearing the company’s petition against protesting workers. The workers’ union is also contemplating legal action against the South Korean electronics company.
Labour department officials are concerned that the protests at Samsung’s plant near Chennai could potentially spread to other electronics manufacturing units in the area if the state government does not step in to resolve the strike, as it did with a Foxconn unit two years ago.
“The protest is being held at a makeshift tent located some distance from the plant, and there is no violation,” said J Prathaban, the advocate representing the labour union, in a statement to media.
On Thursday, the court encouraged the management to engage in conciliatory talks with the union to settle the dispute amicably.
A court order is expected today.
On September 12, Samsung sought a temporary injunction from the Kancheepuram additional district court to prohibit protests and demonstrations within a 500-meter radius of its facility, citing disruptions to its operations caused by the protests.
Hundreds of workers at the Samsung consumer electronics plant in Sunguvarchatram have been on strike since September 9, organized under the banner of the Samsung India Employees Union. According to anonymous sources from Samsung India, the strike has had minimal impact on production.
Meanwhile, a senior labour union official informed that they are considering legal action to secure the union’s registration.
“We are contemplating approaching the Madras High Court to direct the registrar of trade unions to complete the registration,” the official stated. The company has raised objections to the use of ‘Samsung’ in the union’s name.
Several labour unions held solidarity protests in support of Samsung workers. Meanwhile, BJP leader and former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan took to X, stating that as long as the Communists are part of the DMK government, they will “show the red flag” to all industries in Tamil Nadu. She added that the Chief Minister doesn’t need a foreign trip to resolve the issue.
