Over 1,500 workers at a Samsung factory in Tamil Nadu, India, have stopped working for 11 days. They are protesting because they want their new union, called Samsung India Labour Welfare Union, to be recognized. The workers are asking for better pay and safer working conditions. This strike is important because it shows the workers' problems, even as India tries to bring more factories to the country.
The workers want a 50% pay raise over the next three years. They say they have to work in unsafe conditions to meet production goals. Samsung says they follow all the labor laws and rules. The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions and are determined to continue the strike until their demands are met.
Many big companies in India, like Samsung, are being watched for how they treat their workers. Workers want unions to help them get better working conditions. Some companies try to stop unions from forming by creating their own internal unions. The strike at Samsung's factory shows the bigger problem of workers' rights in India, where many workers are hired on short-term contracts. The workers want fair treatment and their union to be recognized, showing the challenges they face.
Original news source: Why hundreds of Samsung workers are protesting in India (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Write down key words related to the article (e.g., Samsung, factory, union, strike, pay raise) on separate cards. Have students pick a card and act out the word without speaking while the others guess what it is.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Select key vocabulary from the article (e.g., protest, conditions, demands, rights) and write them on the board. Divide the class into teams and have them take turns drawing the words while their team guesses what it is.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, have students create a catchy headline summarizing the main idea of the article. Encourage them to include key information like the location, issue, and main players (e.g., "Samsung Workers in India Strike for Better Pay and Conditions").
– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about the challenges faced by the Samsung factory workers in India based on the article. Then, have them pair up to discuss their thoughts before sharing with the whole class.
– Opinion Spectrum
Instructions: Draw a line in the classroom and label one end "Strongly Agree" and the other end "Strongly Disagree." Read out statements related to the article (e.g., "Workers have the right to strike for better pay") and have students place themselves on the line based on their opinion, then discuss their reasons with a partner.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
The workers stopped working because they want their new union to be recognized and they want better pay and safer working conditions.
The workers want a 50% pay raise over the next three years and safer working conditions.
The workers have been on strike for 11 days.
The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions.
Big companies in India are being watched to see how they treat their workers and if they respect workers' rights.
The workers' main goal in forming a union is to get better working conditions and fair treatment.
Workers in India face challenges like unsafe working conditions, short-term contracts, and difficulties in forming unions.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Over 1,500 at a Samsung in Tamil Nadu, India, have stopped working for 11 days. They are protesting because they want their new union, called Samsung India Labour Welfare Union, to be recognized. The workers are asking for better pay and safer working conditions. This strike is because it the workers' problems, even as India tries to bring factories to the country. The workers want a 50% pay raise over the next three years. They say they have to work in unsafe conditions to meet production goals. Samsung says they all the labor laws and rules. The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions and are determined to the strike until their demands are met. Many big companies in India, like Samsung, are being watched for how they treat their workers. Workers want unions to help them get working . Some companies try to unions from forming by creating their own internal unions. The strike at Samsung's factory shows the bigger problem of workers' in India, where many workers are on short-term contracts. The workers want fair treatment and their union to be recognized, showing the challenges they face.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is a workers' union and why do you think workers want to have one?
2. How would you feel if you had to work in unsafe conditions at your job?
3. Do you think it's fair for workers to ask for a 50% pay raise over three years? Why or why not?
4. Why do you think some companies try to stop workers from forming unions?
5. Do you like the idea of workers going on strike to fight for better working conditions? Why or why not?
6. How do you think workers can make sure their voices are heard by big companies like Samsung?
7. What challenges do you think workers in India face when trying to improve their working conditions?
8. Why is it important for workers to have fair treatment at their jobs?
9. How would you feel if you were hired on a short-term contract instead of a permanent one?
10. Do you think it's right for companies to create their own internal unions instead of recognizing workers' chosen unions? Why or why not?
11. What do you think could be done to help workers in India have better working conditions?
12. Why do you think the strike at Samsung's factory is getting attention from people around the world?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.
Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
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