As part of intensifying their indefinite strike, powerloom workers opened gruel centres at nine places in Pallipalayam here on Wednesday. Since the centres were opened despite warnings from the police, 641 workers, including 213 women, were arrested.
With powerloom workers demanding higher wages, the district administration conducted a meeting in which a wage pact was reached between textile manufacturers, powerloom owners and workers.
However, it is said that manufacturers refused to provide additional charge of 20 per cent to the owners who would in turn pay it to workers. With talks yielding no results, members of CITU announced that gruel centres would be opened on Wednesday.
With workers assembling near these centres on Wednesday, police chased them away.
However, a gruel centre was opened near the Cauvery Railway Station and gruel was served to the workers. An altercation broke out between the workers and the police that resulted in scuffle.