Coimbatore, Oct 28: Over 4000 workers of NTC mills in Tamil Nadu began their indefinite strike today, demanding immediate disbursement of bonus, even as negotiations were underway in various private textile mills. According to NTC sources, workers of six mills in Coimbatore and two mills in Paramakudi and Kalayarkoil were on strike demanding Diwali bonus without recovering that from the salary. NTC used to deduct the amount, paid as Diwali bouns, either from the salary or from the retirement benefits, which the workers were objecting to for the past few years. However, workers of two NTC mills in Pondicherry were not participating in the strike, sources said. Though the joint action council of major trade unions had announced strike from today onwards, negotiations were going on in private mills, AITUC sources said, adding agreements had already been reached in some of the mills.
Meanwhile, labour department has convened a meeting on Oct 30, to discuss the bonus issue, they added.
Bureau Report