Powerloom weavers begin indefinite strike

Powerloom weavers in Tamil Nadu's Tiruppur district and nearby areas went on an indefinite strike today alleging that cloth manufacturers are not paying them as per the wage agreement.
About two lakh powerlooms remained shut in the wake of the protest called by Coimbatore and Tiruppur District Power Loom Job Working Unit Owners Association.
The association said a 27 per cent increase in wages was to be given to the weavers by cloth manufacturers as per a three-year agreement in 2014.
However, the pact was followed only for a couple of months and weavers are facing hardships, said Palanisamy, President, Coimbatore District Power Loom Unit Association.

These units produce about 1.50 crore metre of fabrics worth Rs 50 crore a day, he said.