Strike Called Off
Highways Minister M.P. Saminathan; Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan; Rural Industries Minister Pongalur N. Palanisamy; and Backward Classes and Handloom and Textiles Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran with representatives of the job-working powerloom units and textile manufacturers in Coimbatore on Thursday. The job-working powerloom unit owners in Coimbatore district who had gone on an indefinite strike from August 16 demanding an increase in wages called it off on Thursday after an agreement with the textile manufacturers. The district has two lakh powerlooms that employ an equal number of workers. Minister for Textiles and Handlooms K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran told reporters that both the sides agreed to an increase of 32 per cent in weaving charges for one variety (Somanur) and 27 per cent for the other varieties produced by these units. The accord would be implemented from September 15 (former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai’s birth anniversary). “The Collector will issue orders and ensure implementation.”
The powerloom unit owners announced that they would resume working from Friday. The previous wage agreement was clinched in 2005, and it offered an increase of 23 per cent and 19 per cent respectively. The owners sought an increase of 100 per cent this year, as the production costs had gone up. Minister for Rural Industries and Animal Husbandry Pongalur N. Palanisamy and Collector V. Palanikumar held several rounds of talks with both the sides, but in vain. Under the directions of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, Mr. Ramachandran, Mr. Palanisamy, Minister for Labour T.M. Anbarasan and Minister for Highways M.P. Saminathan again had talks with the manufacturers and the owners here on Thursday.
Mr. Ramachandran said solutions would also be found to the demands of the workers of the powerloom units. The open-end spinning mills at Vellakovil had announced an indefinite strike from August 25, seeking a ban on waste cotton export. They also called off the strike on Thursday after an assurance that the State government would take it up with the Centre.
