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)

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

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.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Why did the workers at the Samsung factory in India stop working?
2. What do the workers want from Samsung?
3. How long have the workers been on strike?
4. Who is supporting the workers during the strike?
5. Why are big companies in India being watched?
6. What is the workers’ main goal in forming a union?
7. What challenges do workers in India face according to the article?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Over 1,500 (1)______ at a Samsung (2)______ 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 (3)______ because it (4)______ the workers’ problems, even as India tries to bring (5)______ 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 (6)______ all the labor laws and rules. The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions and are determined to (7)______ 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 (8)______ working (9)______. Some companies try to (10)______ unions from forming by creating their own internal unions. The strike at Samsung’s factory shows the bigger problem of workers’ (11)______ in India, where many workers are (12)______ on short-term contracts. The workers want fair treatment and their union to be recognized, showing the challenges they face.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

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

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. protesting
2. union
3. recognized
4. conditions
5. production
6. labor
7. supported
8. determined
9. demands
10. companies
11. internal
12. contracts

Meanings:
(A) Showing disagreement or unhappiness about something
(B) Things people ask for or want
(C) A group of workers who join together to protect their rights
(D) Making or creating things, usually in a factory
(E) The way things are, especially in a workplace
(F) Work, especially physical work
(G) Businesses or organizations that sell goods or services
(H) Having a strong will to do something
(I) Helped or backed up by someone or something
(J) To be accepted or known officially
(K) Agreements between people or groups, often about work terms
(L) Inside or within something
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Why are the workers at the Samsung factory in Tamil Nadu, India, protesting?
(a) They want to work more hours
(b) They want to move to a different country
(c) They want their new union to be recognized
(d) They want to lower their pay

2. What is the name of the union the workers are trying to get recognized?
(a) Apple China Workers Union
(b) Sony Japan Labor Union
(c) Microsoft Korea Workers Association
(d) Samsung India Labour Welfare Union

3. What are the workers asking for in terms of pay raise?
(a) 10% over the next year
(b) 50% over the next three years
(c) 75% over the next five years
(d) 30% over the next two years

4. Why do the workers say they have to work in unsafe conditions?
(a) Because they enjoy it
(b) To meet production goals
(c) Because they are lazy
(d) Because they want to get fired

5. Who supports the workers in their strike at the Samsung factory?
(a) Centre of Indian Trade Unions
(b) Samsung executives
(c) Indian government
(d) Samsung customers

6. What are workers in India hired on many times?
(a) Short-term contracts
(b) Long-term contracts
(c) Permanent contracts
(d) Temporary contracts

7. Why are many big companies in India being watched?
(a) To see how they treat their customers
(b) To see how they treat their products
(c) To see how they treat their workers
(d) To see how they treat their competitors

8. What do workers in India want to help them get better working conditions?
(a) More work
(b) Less pay
(c) Longer hours
(d) Unions

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Many workers in India are hired on short-term contracts and face challenges in getting fair treatment.
2. Workers in India are fighting for better working conditions and unions to help them.
3. The workers do not want their new union to be recognized by Samsung.
4. They are not asking for better pay and safer working conditions.
5. Samsung claims they follow all labor laws and rules.
6. Over 1,500 workers at a Samsung factory in India have continued working for 11 days.
7. The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions.
8. The workers do not want a 50% pay raise over the next three years.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why did the workers at the Samsung factory in India stop working?
2. What are the workers asking for during the strike?
3. How long have the workers been on strike?
4. Why is it important for workers to have a union?
5. What challenges do workers in India face according to the article?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Why did the workers at the Samsung factory in India stop working?
The workers stopped working because they want their new union to be recognized and they want better pay and safer working conditions.

2. What do the workers want from Samsung?
The workers want a 50% pay raise over the next three years and safer working conditions.

3. How long have the workers been on strike?
The workers have been on strike for 11 days.

4. Who is supporting the workers during the strike?
The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions.

5. Why are big companies in India being watched?
Big companies in India are being watched to see how they treat their workers and if they respect workers’ rights.

6. What is the workers’ main goal in forming a union?
The workers’ main goal in forming a union is to get better working conditions and fair treatment.

7. What challenges do workers in India face according to the article?
Workers in India face challenges like unsafe working conditions, short-term contracts, and difficulties in forming unions.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) workers
(2) factory
(3) important
(4) shows
(5) more
(6) follow
(7) continue
(8) better
(9) conditions
(10) stop
(11) rights
(12) hired
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. protesting
Answer: (A) Showing disagreement or unhappiness about something

2. union
Answer: (C) A group of workers who join together to protect their rights

3. recognized
Answer: (J) To be accepted or known officially

4. conditions
Answer: (E) The way things are, especially in a workplace

5. production
Answer: (D) Making or creating things, usually in a factory

6. labor
Answer: (F) Work, especially physical work

7. supported
Answer: (I) Helped or backed up by someone or something

8. determined
Answer: (H) Having a strong will to do something

9. demands
Answer: (B) Things people ask for or want

10. companies
Answer: (G) Businesses or organizations that sell goods or services

11. internal
Answer: (L) Inside or within something

12. contracts
Answer: (K) Agreements between people or groups, often about work terms
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Why are the workers at the Samsung factory in Tamil Nadu, India, protesting?
Answer: (c) They want their new union to be recognized

2. What is the name of the union the workers are trying to get recognized?
Answer: (d) Samsung India Labour Welfare Union

3. What are the workers asking for in terms of pay raise?
Answer: (b) 50% over the next three years

4. Why do the workers say they have to work in unsafe conditions?
Answer: (b) To meet production goals

5. Who supports the workers in their strike at the Samsung factory?
Answer: (a) Centre of Indian Trade Unions

6. What are workers in India hired on many times?
Answer: (a) Short-term contracts

7. Why are many big companies in India being watched?
Answer: (c) To see how they treat their workers

8. What do workers in India want to help them get better working conditions?
Answer: (d) Unions
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Many workers in India are hired on short-term contracts and face challenges in getting fair treatment. (Answer: True)
2. Workers in India are fighting for better working conditions and unions to help them. (Answer: True)
3. The workers do not want their new union to be recognized by Samsung. (Answer: False)
4. They are not asking for better pay and safer working conditions. (Answer: False)
5. Samsung claims they follow all labor laws and rules. (Answer: True)
6. Over 1,500 workers at a Samsung factory in India have continued working for 11 days. (Answer: False)
7. The workers are supported by a group called Centre of Indian Trade Unions. (Answer: True)
8. The workers do not want a 50% pay raise over the next three years. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧