104 workers from Samsung’s Chennai factory detained for planning protest march

Over 100 workers of a Samsung Electronics factory on the outskirts of Chennai were detained by the police for trying to take out a protest march without permission.
The workers and members of several workers’ unions have been on strike since last week at the plant in Kancheepuram, demanding higher wages and better working conditions.
Their demands also include the recognition of their union, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), news agency Reuters reported.
However, Samsung doesn’t want to recognise any union backed by a national labour group such as the CITU.
Over 1,000 workers out of the 1,800 workers employed at the factory have been protesting in makeshift tents near the factory, which manufactures appliances including televisions, refrigerators and washing machines.
The factory in Kancheepuram generates around one third of Samsung’s annual India revenue of 12 billion US Dollars.
Samsung had said on Friday that it had initiated discussions with workers at the Chennai plant “to resolve all issues at the earliest.”
But, as talks with Samsung as well as state government officials failed, the workers decided to stage a protest march on Monday.
But, they were detained as the police didn’t give them permission since there are schools, colleges and hospitals in the area, Reuters reported. A total of 104 workers were detained at a wedding hall near Kancheepuram.
Meanwhile, 12 union groups, including one affiliated with the DMK, have decided to stage a protest supporting the striking workers in Chennai on Wednesday.
Samsung did not respond to questions, Reuters said.