They were protesting against the South Korean company amidst heavy rains accusing it of making the workers overwork for low pay, setting unrealistic targets for overtime, and blocking unionisation efforts to address their grievances.
Published Oct 09, 2024 | 5:13 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 09, 2024 | 5:13 PM
Police speaking with the protestors at
The Tamil Nadu police arrested Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) state President A Soundararajan along with 10 workers at the Samsung factory located at Sunguvarchatram near Sriperumbudur in the Kanchipuram district on the intervening night of 8 October and 9 October.
They were protesting against the South Korean company amidst heavy rains accusing it of making the workers overwork for low pay, setting unrealistic targets for overtime, and blocking unionisation efforts to address their grievances.
Samsung employs thousands of permanent and contract workers in its Sunguvarchatram unit that primarily manufactures home appliances of the brand.
The arrested Samsung workers were released as the magistrate refused to remind them.
The workers said that the CITU union was formed after their demands were unfulfilled even after several rounds of protests.
They said that even after providing all the documents required for the registration of the union, the labour welfare department of the Tamil Nadu government was refusing to register it by favouring Samsung management.
Samsung workers have been protesting for a month, insisting on a wage hike and the recognition of the CITU union.
After the protests, Chief Minister MK Stalin formed a committee consisting of ministers TRB Raja, TM Anbarasan and CV Ganeshan to hold talks with the protestors and the company.
Following the negotiations of the protestors with Samsung, all of their demands except the formation of a union were accepted by the company.
However, the Samsung India CITU union announced that the strike would continue until the union was recognised.
Subsequently, late at night on Tuesday, the police arrested over 10 people who were protesting against the company from their homes. They also removed the banners from the protest sites.
Following this, the workers continued their protest despite heavy rain even after the police demanded to abandon the protest.
When they refused to call off the demonstration, the police arrested all those involved, including Soundararajan, who had come to show support.
This arrest took place amidst politicians like Thol Thirumavalavan of the Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi (VCK), K Selvaperunthagai of the Congress, K Balakrishnan of the CPI(M), R Mutharasan of the CPI, Velmurugan and others were to meet the workers in person on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Soundararajan said on Wednesday: “This is a grave violation by the police. There is no law that allows them to arrest protesters from a private place. The government’s behaviour is unlawful, and the chief minister must intervene immediately.”
“The police are engaged in intimidating the majority of workers to keep them in favour of the corporate establishment. It is wrong on the part of the government to act in favour of corporates.”
“Ten people were arrested last night. You have threatened all the families. You are causing panic in every family. The women (kin of the arrested) are shaking all over. Is this what the government should do?”, he asked.
Following the arrests, an urgent appeal was filed in the Madras High Court against the police’s actions. Advocate Thirumurthy, representing the CITU union, demanded an urgent hearing, and the court agreed to hear the case later in the day.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu met the media at the state Secretariat in Chennai.
“The government has been trying to resolve the issue since the beginning keeping in mind the welfare of the Samsung workers and to ensure that the educated youth of the state continue to get better job opportunities. The company came forward to accept the demands of the protesting workers. On the basis of this negotiation, Samsung reached to an agreement with them,” he said.
He said Samsung had agreed to a series of demands, including a special incentive of ₹5000 to the monthly salary from 1 October, improved medical and transport facilities, and additional leave.
“They agreed that in case of death of any worker during the period of work, immediate special relief of ₹1 lakh will be given to the family of that worker,” the minister said.
Citing the CITU protest regarding the registration of their union, he said: “This protest may go on as the case is pending in the court. The Labor Welfare Department will definitely take appropriate action based on the outcome of the case in the court”
He urged the CITU to call off the protests and await the court’s decision regarding union recognition.
Regarding the arrest of the workers, he said: “They (police) did not enter the houses of the workers and arrest them. Many people were at the site where a conflict with the police department occurred. The police arrested only those who were involved in it and they have come on bail. The government did not remand anyone. It is a government that respects the sentiments of workers.”
Meanwhile, Opposition parties condemned the arrest of the workers.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami questioned the state government, “I have been constantly pointing out the law and order situation in Tamil Nadu. Why is the DMK government not showing any effort to arrest those who have committed crimes, and why is it only showing interest in oppressing the workers who are fighting for their just demands?”
காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டம் சுங்குவார்சத்திரத்தில் உள்ள சாம்சங் நிறுவனத்தில் பணிபுரியும் ஊழியர்கள் பல்வேறு கோரிக்கைகளை வலியுறுத்தி போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டு வருகின்றனர்.
தொழிலாளளர்-நிறுவனம்-அரசு முத்தரப்பு பேச்சுவார்த்தையில் முழுமையான தீர்வு எட்டப்படாத நிலையில், அரசு தரப்பில்… pic.twitter.com/l5mOYWjgmp
— Edappadi K Palaniswami – Say No To Drugs & DMK (@EPSTamilNadu) October 9, 2024
In a statement released by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) President Anbumani Ramadoss said, “Tamil Nadu government should have found a solution acceptable to all the parties after having a joint meeting regarding the demand of the workers. However, efforts are only being made to intimidate the workers. The arrests were part of it.
“All those arrested should be released. The labour community will never forgive this oppression and betrayal by the Tamil Nadu government,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin, explaining the arrests said, “Samsung is a multinational company. It has certain restrictions. Since it is a multinational company, the company says it could not permit a trade union with political links. Except for one demand of the workers, all other demands have been accepted by the company.”
The arrested Samsung workers were released as the magistrate refused to remind them, he said.
Also, in the case of an urgent appeal in the Madras High Court against the police’s attempt to forcefully arrest the Samsung workers, it has been ordered that “Samsung workers are not prohibited from protesting peacefully”.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
