Samsung strike: Demand for recognition of majority trade unions remains top issue

K C Gopikumar, CITU secretary, Tamil Nadu underlines this as legal right of workers, says outsiders can be allowed to lead as per Trade Unions Act. As the strike by Samsung Electronics workers in Tamil Nadu entered its second month, labour leaders have underlined the demands that must be taken up at a tripartite discussion. “The demand for registration and recognition of a majority trade union is the topmost issue, while other economic demands can be settled with ups and downs,” KC Gopikumar secretary of CITU, Tamil Nadu and spokesperson of Samsung India Electronics Union told Business Today.Over 1,000 workers of Samsung India at the Sriperumbudur plant have been on strike since September 7. The workers have sought recognition of their newly-formed union Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU) led by the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). The workers have also prepared a charter of other demands including higher pay as well as other benefits. While the Samsung management had agreed to the demand for higher pay, it has not agreed to the issue of recognition of the workers’ Union. Workers also rejected a settlement offer from the company with a wage increase as it did not include the recognition of the Union.