Samsung strike: Vexed DMK fields trade union wing to counter CITU’s allegations

CHENNAI: Vexed with the stubborn stand taken by the CITU over not ending the Samsung Electronics workers’ strike till the union is registered, the ruling DMK has deputed its trade union wing, the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), to appeal and attack their trade union colleagues from the Left for creating a deadlock and criticising Chief Minister MK Stalin.

In a statement on Sunday, LPF accused the CITU of exaggerating the issue and making it impossible to end the strike. Interestingly, LPF had initially extended support to the Samsung workers’ strike.

Blaming the CITU over the deadlock in the registration of the Samsung India Workers’ Union (SIWU) by the Labour Department, LPF statement questioned the CITU for complaining against the government over the delay in registering the union after creating the deadlock by filing a case.

LPF noted that there is no law in the country to recognise any union. “What justification do you have for complaining that the government does not act according to law when there is no such law,” it asked.

Recalling the efforts taken by Chief Minister Stalin who deputed LPF leaders and ministers to resolve the issue, it criticised CITU for portraying the government as favouring the Samsung management though it was the government that forced the company to accept the workers’ demand, including wage hike.

The statement added that it was the Labour Department that initiated reconciliation talks with the management which was unwilling to negotiate initially.

LPF, one of the nine Central Trade Unions in the country, said young workers with no trade union experience would get emotional and take to the streets to protest but the experienced union leaders should stop them. “The government is taking all efforts and LPF is extending its support. In this situation, we request you (CITU) to bring an end to the issue without further escalating it,” it urged.

One-day hunger fast on October 18

Samsung workers would hold a one-day hunger strike in Chennai on October 18, said Samsung India Workers’ Union president and CITU Kancheepuram district secretary E Muthukumar.

Muthukumar said all protesting workers would gather at Azhichur village on Monday morning. “In the hunger strike on October 18, CITU State leaders will take part. On October 21, a one-day strike would be held in all the factories in Kancheepuram district,” he said, adding that the protest would continue, with the case seeking registration of the union coming up in the Madras High Court.