THE determined struggle of young workers at Samsung India in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, has caught the nation's attention. 

The right to form a union is a fundamental right guaranteed by the constitution. It is not something to be begged from anyone. The eight-hour workday, leave, and special benefits we enjoy today are all achievements won by the working class through struggle. 

The Samsung workers have once again proven through their 37-day struggle that these rights can never be surrendered.

Following the acceptance of demands related to trade union rights and workers' collective bargaining rights, Samsung India workers have returned to work from October 17.

A general body meeting of the Samsung India Workers' Union (CITU) was held in Kanchipuram on October 16. The meeting, attended by a large number of workers filling the venue to capacity, was participated by CITU state president A Soundararajan, Samsung India Workers' Union President E Muthukumar, KC Gopi Kumar, Sridhar, R Karthik, Samsung Workers' Union general secretary Ellen, and treasurer R Mathesh.

They explained the details of the tripartite talks held between the Samsung management, the Labour Welfare Department, and the CITU trade union for two days on October 14 and 15, under the instruction of the Tamil Nadu chief minister. They also answered various questions from the workers.

Following this, more than 1,500 workers decided to end their strike, which had been going on for over 37 days, and return to work, accepting the agreement reached in the tripartite talks. Celebrating their victory, the workers raised slogans such as "Long live workers' unity" and "Long live trade union unity."

Consequently, Samsung India workers returned to their regular duties from October 17.

DEMOCRATIC DECISION

After the general body meeting, CITU leaders met with reporters. CITU state president  A Soundararajan spoke about the decisions taken at the meeting: "Talks were held on October 14 and 15 at the Chennai Secretariat to find a solution to the Samsung workers' strike. Four ministers participated, along with Labor Welfare Department officials.

“In these talks, they asked about our demands. We informed them that there were no changes to the demands we had already submitted. In the subsequent talks, even though the Samsung management did not come forward to sit and talk with us directly, we insisted that they should come to the Labour Welfare Department office. They should provide a written response to our petition of demands. After that, conciliation talks can take place. “We'll see what response we get. If no resolution is reached, let it go to court. This is what happens everywhere. This is the legal procedure. How can a management refuse to even do this?

“After that, the ministerial committee held talks with the Samsung management. We don't know what was discussed there. But in the end, the management accepted the demands we put forward from our side.

“Our other demand was that there should be no retaliatory actions related to the strike. After some hesitation, they agreed to this as well. There should be a smooth situation when workers return to work. The management requested that workers behave accordingly. We assured them that the workers would behave with discipline and decorum, whether asked or not.

“The Labour Welfare Department officer gave all these as advisories. Both the factory management representatives and we, who participated on behalf of the workers, signed agreeing to this. After that, the Labour Welfare Department officer signed stating that this is the advisory. This is an advisory that emerged through tripartite talks. It's almost equivalent to an agreement.

“Following this, we explained the results of the tripartite talks in detail to the workers at the general body meeting held on October 16. We answered the questions asked by the workers and addressed their doubts. After that, it was decided to withdraw the protest. Accordingly, workers are returning to work on October 17."

AFFIRMING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

E Muthukumar, speaking on the occasion, said, "The great strike that has been going on for 37 days at the Samsung India factory has ended well. Generally, when there's a protest, especially a strike, there's large-scale violence and riots. It goes to tribunals and courts. But this workers' protest was conducted in a highly ethical manner. The world is looking at this protest with wonder. The outcome of this protest has also made the workers happy. This protest has affirmed that the trade union movement has the right to collective bargaining, equal pay for equal work, and the right to enjoy the rights under our constitution properly."

The implementation of neoliberal policies is creating new forms of exploitation worldwide. Particularly, the crony capital of corporate companies has turned to crass profiteering. History shows that the ruling class's oppressive methods will create the rise of the working class. That's what has happened at Samsung India.

During the Samsung workers' protest, the capitalist class and right-wingers jointly spread anti-union slanders at lightning speed through social media. As always, they poured out the filtered lie that if unions come, investments won't come, there won't be industrial growth, and workers won't have jobs. But in the past 25 years, they couldn't show a single factory that closed due to trade union struggle. The lies that came like a storm disappeared just as quickly. But the unity and determination of the workers have been proven on the ground to be true, and to be the only saviours of their rights.

Earlier, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the CITU trade union, all workers, Samsung company officials, and ministers who were supportive and cooperative in resolving the workers' issue.

“Due to the intensive efforts taken by the government, many important demands emphasized by the workers were accepted by Samsung. Moreover, an agreement has been reached between the two parties to create good intentions and good relationships” he said in a press release. 

“Tamil Nadu, which shines as a great example of industrial peace in India, will certainly continue to maintain that good reputation. This government will continue to make efforts for that. The Tamil Nadu government will continue to act with two objectives as its two eyes – to protect workers' welfare and to increase industrial prosperity.

Tamil Nadu will continue on its path of growth; it will continue to stand as a strong support to see to workers' welfare”, a separate statement of the government of Tamil Nadu assured.