Intensifying their stir, owners and workers of job working power loom units in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, who are on indefinite strike from April 2, today observed a day’s fast demanding payment of wages and arrears as agreed upon in 2014.

Putting forward their demand, they have been on an indefinite strike, seeking immediate settlement of arrears and also implementation of 2014 wage settlement arrived at a tripartite meeting, following a similar strike three years ago.

The fast is being observed at 10 places in two districts and the strike has resulted in loss of production of Rs.700 crore worth fabrics in the
last 10 days.

The job working units make fabrics for textile manufacturers for wages for different grade of clothe.

Pinning hope on the District Collectors for calling for negotiation, the unit owners were disappointed, as the administration never bothered about the welfare of the weavers, the Job Working Units Association sources said.

The manufacturers were giving only three-fourth of the wages, as against the settled wages, they said adding that the new wage settlement was also due this year.

“We are demanding full wages and also arrears for the last two years,” they said.

Besides affecting nearly two lakh workers, the strike will indirectly affect about three lakh people, the sources added.