Wage issue settled, indefinite strike will be called off

Settlement on the wage issue between Power Loom Job working units and textile manufacturers was arrived at, paving way for the withdrawal of the 26-day old indefinite strike by power loom owners.
The job working units, accounting for two lakh power looms in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts downed their shutters since January 28, for non-implementation of the wage agreement reached in 2014.
They claimed that manufacturers had given the increased wages for the first three months and reverted to old wages, necessitating the strike, which resulted in production loss of nearly Rs 1,300 crore.
As three rounds of talks, initiated by the two district collectors, failed to settle the issue, another round of talks were held here today, in the presence of two State Ministers, S P Velumani and M S M Anandan, district collectors, Archana Patnaik and Jayandhi and senior labour department officials, official sources said.

During the talks to find an amicable solution to maintain industrial peace, the manufacturers agreed to pay the revised wages, 27 per cent increase for Palladam grade and 30 per cent for Somanur grade, sources added.
According to sources, power loom unit owners will announce their decision on the withdrawal of strike, after consulting with other office bearers and owners.
Considering the agreement, it was almost withdrawn, they said.
Meanwhile, the associations had requested that the government has to take steps to reduce the five per cent tax on yarn, to two per cent and also make available the net meters used in Solar power.