Striking textile workers in Coimbatore seek Government intervention

Coimbatore, Oct 16(ANI): Following the failure of two rounds of talks between National Textile Corporation (NTC) workers' union and management over Diwali bonus issue, the striking workers have sought Government intervention.

Striking workers have been demanding that bonus should be calculated according to the percentage of their total earnings.

The workers and management had previously met on October 12 and October 14 in presence of the Labour Joint Commissioner of Chennai, but none of the talks were successful.

"We are organizing the struggle to get our demands, we want the central and state Government to intervene in the matter and solve the issue in favour of the labourers, who have given their full contribution to the establishment. If the government fails them, our protests will continue even vigorously," said Arumugam, state secretary of textile workers.

The workers said that Diwali bonus is something their families look forward to, so they should not be deprived of a fair percentage in the bonus.

"It will not be a happy Diwali for us because our families await the bonus that comes once in the year. And if we don't even get that, how can it be a happy Diwali?" said Ponnuswamy, a textile worker.

The leaders of the major textile trade unions, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Labour Progressive Front (LPF) and Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) are spearheading the strike of about 5,000 workers of seven NTC mills.

The strike has entered its fourth day as production in the mills has come to a standstill and the loss was estimated at Rs.60 lakh a day. (ANI)