TN police detain 104 striking Samsung workers for unauthorised march
For the past seven days, the workers have been protesting with the demand for higher wages, recognition of a CITU-backed union, and better working hours
More than 100 striking workers of a Samsung Electronics plant near Chennai were reportedly detained on Monday (September 16) for planning a march without police permission.
The workers have ceased work for a week demanding higher wages.
Roughly a third of Samsung’s annual India revenue of $12 billion comes from this plant, reported news agency Reuters.
Detained in wedding halls
A senior police officer of Kancheepuram district told Reuters that the workers had been detained as they attempted to go on the march on a route which has schools, colleges and hospitals and hence had not been given permission for it.
He said the workers have been detained in wedding halls, as all of them cannot be housed in police stations.
Why workers are striking
For the past seven days, the workers have been protesting from a tent pitched near the plant. They demand higher wages, recognition of a CITU-backed union, and better working hours.
A senior CITU leader, E Muthukumar, who was leading the protests, has also reportedly been detained.
Samsung on Friday said it has started talks with the workers “to resolve all issues at the earliest”.
(With agency inputs)