JAC To Meet To Discuss Wage Issue
The State-level Joint Action Council of the Textile Workers’ Trade Unions (JAC) is expected to meet here shortly to discuss the wage issue of the mill workers. Over three lakh workers are employed in the mills, which number over 2,000, in the State. The last five-year, industry-wide wage settlement for the workers expired in 1998. There is no wage revision since then, alleges M. Arumugam, president of the State textile federation of the AITUC. On an average, a worker in a textile mill in the State earns about Rs. 6,300 a month.We are asking for standardisation of wages and amendment to the standing order
“We are asking for standardisation of wages and amendment to the standing order,” he says. The mills are now categorised into three groups. However, the variation comes only in the number of workers. They do the same job and have the same workload in all the units. Hence, the unions want a standardised wage pattern. Further, the standing order should be amended so that a worker is confirmed at job after 12 months apprenticeship. Now, the mills have less than 50 per cent workers are permanent labour, he says.
The JAC has held talks with the cooperative mills and sought Rs. 600 a month more than the current wages. In the case of National Textile Corporation units, an interim hike of Rs. 260 a month was given two years ago. The Government has asked the mills to come out with a proposal to find a solution to the problem before May 20. The Coimbatore and Erode District JAC met here on Monday to discuss these.
According to an industry source here, the mills are in a crisis now with various problems such as high cotton prices and appreciation of the rupee against the dollar. The units plan to send their representation to the Government soon on the wage issue before May 20.
