• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

WIMCO workers on strike

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, Dec. 5

WORKERS at the WIMCO match factory have gone on a strike following a dispute over wage settlement, according to union sources.

According to information from the Stock Exchange, the management has informed the BSE of the strike at the facility. However, the management has said that it has not materially affected operations because market supplies are being maintained from product ion at other facilities.

WIMCO Employees' Union representative told Business Line that the workers have been on strike from November 6 following breakdown of wage settlement talks between management and workers. Discussions had been going on since the previous wage settlement en ded on December 21, 1999.

He said that the workers had been demanding a wage rise of Rs. 1100 per month. But the head office had not approved the hike, and they could not arrive at a compromise despite conciliation efforts. The Labour Department officials have stepped in, and con ciliatory efforts are on, he said.

Over 650 workers are employed at the factory, he said. The management was willing to allow a hike of around Rs 650 per month. The management and workers also do not see eye to eye regarding allotment of factory land to workers' housing project, he said.