2 weeks Ago By Vaitheeswaran B
Samsung Electronics India calls an employee strike illegal, threatens to disable ID cards, and warns of legal action. Workers at the Chennai plant demand wage revisions and better conditions, with the company alleging violations of the Industrial Disputes Act. Samsung Electronics India calls the strike by its employees illegal and threatens to disable ID cards in a notice sent on Friday.
Employees and labour representatives TOI spoke to confirm such notices. TOI has sent a query to Samsung, and it is yet to respond. The South Korean electronics major has sent a notice stating that the strike is in violation of the Industrial Disputes Act and its standing orders.
It accused the employees of not following conciliation guidelines and not having a reason. “The management has already indicated that all issues can be resolved through negotiations and has made various amicable efforts to resolve differences and return to work, but still some are involved in a continuous illegal strike ,” it said in a notice accessed by TOI. It said protesting employees will be disabled, thereby cutting off their access, from Monday.
The company also warned of legal action against those who prevent workers who wish to attend work. Hundreds of workers at the Samsung consumer electronics plant at Sunguvarchatram near Chennai have been on strike since 9 September, under the banner Samsung India Employees Union ( SIEU ), demanding wage revision and better working conditions. This strike is impacting production at the facility, which roughly contributes to a third of Samsung’s $12 billion annual revenue in the country.
E Muthukumar, president of the union, said, “Public statements made by the company and notice are contradictory. It is up to the courts to decide whether the strike is illegal, and there are no conciliatory talks pending on a charter of demands. The employees will continue to strike,” he said.
The issue escalated further on Thursday as the company sued protesting workers, while the workers' union is considering legal action against the company in the Madras high court..
