Loading and unloading operations at wholesale vegetable markets in Mettupalayam suffered after the workers went on a strike on Sunday morning.
According to sources, around 2,000 workers refused to unload potatoes at ‘mundys’ on Nellithurai Road, Gandhi Maidan, Old Municipality Office Road, Thiru Subramanya Kovil Street and a few other places.
The markets see traders bring potatoes from the Nilgris and Karnataka on a daily basis. The workers unload these from the lorries and take them to ‘mundys’ and from there to the buyers who purchase them for further sales.
These workers entered into an agreement with the ‘mundy’ owners on January 14, 2010 for a period of three years, till January 13, 2013. At the end of the agreement period, the workers demanded that they be given Rs. 12 a load. The ‘mundy’ owners did not agree and this resulted in a stalemate.
The sources said that the Mettupalayam Police intervened to ask the agitating workers to negotiate with the ‘mundy’ owners and continue the loading and unloading operation until a decision was arrived at.
As it was decided to hold the wage talks on Wednesday, the strike was called off late in the evening.