Workers adopt novel protest, symbolising suicide by hanging

Adopting a novel method to try and attract the management of National Textile Corporation to pay them arrears, some striking workers here 'hung' themselves on ropes to symbolise they would commit suicide if no solution was soon found.
They were part of 4,500 workers of seven NTC mills state wide who are on strike since January 21, seeking immediate disbursement of arrears of revised wages from Jan 2013.
Trade union sources alleged the management has not paid them arrears for six months before Pongal, at the rate of Rs 1,650 per month, as against the demand for 12 months.
Following this, they even observed a one day fast, amidst tripartite talks, to break the deadlock.

As talks in Madurai and in this city were inconclusive, the workers are continuing their strike, while another round of talks was scheduled on Feb 6 at Delhi, they said.
There could be a loss production worth Rs 12 crore due to the strike, they said.
The NTC management said it was possible to pay workers arrears for six months and not for 12 months, as demanded.