Samsung India workers’ union ends month-long strike; protesting workers to be reinstated

Samsung India workers’ union ends month-long strike; protesting workers to be reinstated

Samsung India Workers’ Union (SIWU) has officially ended its month-long strike following appeals from government officials and company representatives urging employees to return to work.

Samsung has agreed to reinstate the protesting workers, a source told Moneycontrol, adding that the company’s proactive engagement has facilitated their return, effectively bringing the strike to an end.

The company will reinstate employees and unblock their IDs in batches. While management assured employees would be allowed to return starting Saturday, with individual emails being sent, the union insisted on a written confirmation.

However, workers under Suspension Pending Enquiry will still be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

“The management acknowledges that the illegal strike involving a certain group of workers has been withdrawn effective today (March 7), as per the workers’ communication mail dated 05.03.2025,” stated a circular issued by Samsung.

The circular also advised employees against engaging in illegal activities in the future and announced a batch-wise training program starting March 8, 2025. Individual training schedules will be communicated via email.

"Samsung welcomes the workers' decision to call off the illegal strike and resume their duties at the Chennai plant. The company’s initiative to welcome back striking workers and its proactive engagement have facilitated their return, effectively ending the strike. We remain committed to enforcing discipline in the premises and resolving outstanding issues directly with our workers to maintain a positive work environment,” a Samsung India spokesperson told Moneycontrol.

The strike began on February 5, 2025, with over 1,000 workers protesting the suspension of 23 union members of SIWU, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

This dispute follows a similar strike in September 2024, when over 1,000 workers walked off the job demanding higher wages, better working conditions, and official recognition of the then-unregistered SIWU. That strike ended on October 16 after negotiations with Tamil Nadu government officials, allowing workers to return the next day.

The Sriperumbudur factory, which employs around 1,800 workers, manufactures televisions, washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, and compressors. The facility contributed one-fifth of Samsung’s $12 billion India sales in 2022-23.