CHENNAI: Hundreds of workers at a manufacturing plant of Apple supplier Flex in Tamil Nadu staged a one-day strike on Friday, demanding higher wages and the recognition of a union. Many electronics manufacturers in India, including Foxconn and Pegatron, lack a union, while automobile factories have higher levels of organising, according to labour welfare workers.
At Flex, unhappy over wages and policies, including tour allowances and medical leaves, all permanent workers, about 750, joined the Centre of Indian Trade Union, said union secretary E Muthukumar. He added that Flex, which makes chargers for Apple, was unwilling to recognise the union at the plant, which employs roughly 4,000 people, including contractors, who did not join the strike.
“As house rents, education fees and other expenses have increased, it is not possible to sustain a livelihood with the current salary,” the union had informed Flex. Flex did not respond to requests for comment.