Powerloom workers resumed work on Tuesday after they were on an indefinite strike for a month demanding a raise in wages.
There are more than 30,000 powerlooms in Pallipalayam and Komarapalayam in which over 52,000 workers are employed. Wages are fixed every two years.
The wages were not revised in 2014.
The workers wanted a 75 per cent increase in wages. As textile manufacturers refused to raise the charges, powerloom owners too refuse to pay more.
Meeting
Workers in Komarapalayam were on indefinite strike from April 8.
To end the strike, the district administration convened a meeting with manufacturers, owners, and workers on April 15. But the meeting failed, and another meeting was held on April 20.
On Monday, District Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy held the meeting.
Additional wage
He asked the manufacturers to provide an additional wage of 20 per cent, which the powerloom owners should provide to the workers.
He said that the new wage pact would be effective from April 1 for two years. Textile manufactures and powerloom owners signed the pact but some of the trade union members refused to do so.
Sources said that about 80 per cent of the workers returned to work on Tuesday. Some of the trade union members are continuing with the strike.
Published - April 22, 2015 12:00 am IST
