Daily wagers stop lifting textile parcels from 4 markets

Surat: The delivery of textile parcels in around four textile markets in the city has come to a standstill after the workers went on an indefinite strike to press for a wage hike on Saturday.

Textile Kamdar Union announced strike in Millennium, Abhishek, Shiv Shakti and Annapurna markets after textile traders refused to increase wages from Rs 60 per parcel to Rs 120 per parcel. The workers have been demanding hike in lifting charges of the parcels since the last many days as most of the transporters’ godowns have now shifted to far away places due to traffic congestion in city areas.

Textile Kamdar Union president Shaan Khan said, “The demand of workers is genuine. They have to carry the parcel on their shoulders all the way from the markets . Each parcel weighs between 50 kg and 60 kg. The workers are doing a difficult physical activity .”

Khan added, “We had given letters to all the market associations of the 165 markets in the city informing wage hike at the rate of Rs 120 per parcel. However, many markets are not willing to accept our demand. If our demand is not be met, not a single parcel will be lifted from the markets.”