The 39-day long strike by the power loom owners in Tirupur has come to an end after talks held between cloth producers and power loom owners ended on a successful note.
Tirupur: Tirupur power loom owners strike that had been ongoing for 39 days in demand for wage hike finally ended after talks held in the presence of the Minister of Information and Publicity of Tamil Nadu, M P Saminathan.
In Tirupur and Coimbatore districts, more than 50,000 power loom owners and more than 3 lakh power loom workers earn a living through these power looms which generate wages of about Rs. 2.5 lakhs. A new agreement was signed between the power loom owners and the cloth producers on wage hike in November last year at the District Collectorate in Coimbatore.

Based on the agreement, a 23 percent hike was decided upon and signed for Somanur varieties and 20 percent for other varieties, including Palladam. The power loom manufacturers have however been on an indefinite strike since January 9, demanding that the newly-agreed upon wage hike that the cloth producers have been denying be implemented.
This resulted in a commercial loss of up to Rs. 60 crore production per day due to the non-operation of about 2.5 lakh power looms. Various protests and multi-stage talks were held on behalf of power loom manufacturers. In the next round of talks held on Wednesday, chaired by the Minister, an agreement was reached between the power loom manufacturers and textile stakeholders.
The Tirupur district power loom owners participated in the talks while power loom manufacturers from Coimbatore did not turn up. An agreement was signed between the two parties to provide a 19 percent hike for Somanur and 15 percent for other varieties. The parties have also agreed to hold talks and decide on the agreement signed in November after 6 months.
On the other hand, the Coimbatore power loom owners’ stand is still unclear, while the strike by the Tirupur power loom owners has finally ended.
In Tirupur and Coimbatore districts, more than 50,000 power loom owners and more than 3 lakh power loom workers earn a living through these power looms which generate wages of about Rs. 2.5 lakhs. A new agreement was signed between the power loom owners and the cloth producers on wage hike in November last year at the District Collectorate in Coimbatore.
Based on the agreement, a 23 percent hike was decided upon and signed for Somanur varieties and 20 percent for other varieties, including Palladam. The power loom manufacturers have however been on an indefinite strike since January 9, demanding that the newly-agreed upon wage hike that the cloth producers have been denying be implemented.
This resulted in a commercial loss of up to Rs. 60 crore production per day due to the non-operation of about 2.5 lakh power looms. Various protests and multi-stage talks were held on behalf of power loom manufacturers. In the next round of talks held on Wednesday, chaired by the Minister, an agreement was reached between the power loom manufacturers and textile stakeholders.
The Tirupur district power loom owners participated in the talks while power loom manufacturers from Coimbatore did not turn up. An agreement was signed between the two parties to provide a 19 percent hike for Somanur and 15 percent for other varieties. The parties have also agreed to hold talks and decide on the agreement signed in November after 6 months.
On the other hand, the Coimbatore power loom owners’ stand is still unclear, while the strike by the Tirupur power loom owners has finally ended.