Textile workers soften stance, seek re-induction

After several striking workers from various textile mills including Arvind Ltd and Ankur Textiles being sacked, the former have softened their stand in the four-week long battle. Striking workers have requested Textile Labour Association (TLA) to focus on their re-induction to work rather than wage hike.

"We have offered our full support to TLA who have assured us proper negotiations with our employers. As of now we want all our sacked striking workers to be re-inducted. We are also ready for the interim relief of Rs 1,600 per month as of now," said Yashpal Jaiswal, striking workers' union leader at Arvind Ltd's Naroda plant.

On its part, TLA has assured negotiations for the 40 per cent wage hike in the next three months.

"The striking workers today gave us their full support and have allowed us to negotiate on their behalf with Ahmedabad Textile Mills Association (ATMA). They have also agreed to now focus on being re-inducted at their respective textile plants. Over 700 workers from the four textile mills were sacked post strike," said Amar Barot, general secretary of TLA.

The striking textile workers' change in stance comes just a couple of days after they threatened to boycott authority of TLA's office bearers. Also, the striking workers of four textile mills had threatened to involve workers from other mills if their demands for interim relief of Rs 1,600 per month are not met by Wednesday. However, no workers from other mills joined them till Friday.

According to Barot, once textile mills like Arvind Ltd., Ankur Textiles and Asarwa Mills re-inducted the sacked workers, TLA will begin negotiations for implementation of the interim relief of Rs 1,600 per month. "The workers have assured us to join work once their employers agree to re-induct them. Later, we hope to reach at a consensus with ATMA for the 40 per cent wage hike in next three months," he added.

However, Jaiswal was non-committal on ending the strike even after employers like Arvind Ltd. and Ankur Textiles agree to re-induct the sacked striking workers.

As reported earlier, what began as a standalone strike at Arvind's Naroda denim plant in Ahmedabad on June 4, 2012 spread to three other mills, with now over 8,000 workers on strike. The textile mill members of ATMA jointly employ over 12,000 workers on the shop floor.