2.5 lakh knitwear industry workers go on strike

Tirupur, Sept 18: More than 2.5 lakh workers in the knitwear industry, including one lakh women, observed a day-long strike today, demanding wage hike, among other things.

The joint committee of the CITU, AITUC, LPF, MLF and ATP, had issued the strike call in support of 13 demands of the workers, after they were turned down by the garment factory owners.

According to knitwear industry sources, the strike would result in loss of production about Rs 35 rpt three five crore to the knitwear industry for about 5000 manufacturers in this hosiery town.

The joint committee of the unions had conducted four rounds of talks but the manufacturers rejected the workers' demand of increase in wages. The manufacturers proposed productivity linked hike in wages over a five-year time frame.

But the joint committee turned it down and called for the strike today.

UNI