Powerloom owners and workers in Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts have launched an indefinite strike from March 19, demanding a permanent resolution to wage disputes and the withdrawal of the 6% annual power tariff hike.
The Coimbatore and Tiruppur District Powerloom (Wage Earners) Owners Association held an urgent meeting at Thekkalur. Members insisted that the 2022 wage accord be fully implemented without any further reductions and urged the district administrations to negotiate a legally binding new wage agreement.
Long-Standing Wage Disputes
Powerloom workers have faced wage uncertainties for years, with agreements being renegotiated every three years since 1991. In 2021, a wage hike of 20–23% was approved, but in 2022, this was reduced to 15% and paid for only three months. Rising power tariffs and increasing costs of spare parts have further strained power loom businesses, making it difficult for workers to sustain their livelihoods.
Massive Industry Impact
Coimbatore and Tiruppur districts together have around 2.5 lakh powerlooms, producing approximately 1.25 crore meters of fabric daily. The current strike involves over 10,000 powerloom units and 1.5 lakh workers across key textile hubs like Somanur, Kannampalayam, Avinashi, Thekkalur, Pudupalayam, and Perumanallur. The protest is expected to impact over four lakh workers dependent on this industry.
Despite repeated representations over the past 15 months, workers claim their demands have been ignored, forcing them to take this drastic step. They have urged the Tamil Nadu government to prioritize resolving the issue at the earliest to prevent further disruptions in the textile sector.
