NTC's indefinite strike enters fifth day

The strike by over 5,000 workers of seven textile mills attached to the National Textile Corporation (NTC) in Tamil Nadu over the bonus issue entered the fifth day today.

The workers have been on strike from October 13 to protest against the management's 'failure' to pay bonus by calculating the total earnings in a year. The NTC however claims these mills were not making profits.

Tamil Nadu rural industries minister, Pongalur N Palanisamy had held talks with Joint Action Council (JAC) of major textile unions and  senior textile ministry officials and NTC in a bid to solve the issue, but nothing came of it.

INTUC sources alleged that the management was adamant in not accepting their demand, despite four rounds of talks between the management and JAC in the presence of senior labour department officials here and in Chennai.

They said these mills produce over 5,000kg of yarn daily and claimed that the strike has resulted in a production loss of more than Rs6crore.

JAC will meet tomorrow to decide on the future course of action, the sources said.