15k weaving units in Pandesara, Bamroli shut due to workers' stir

Surat: The tussle between textile workers and powerloom weavers over wage hike for the past few days has failed to end in the Diamond City.
Over 15,000 powerloom units at Pandesara and Bamroli have downed their shutters following attacks on weaving units at Maruti industrial society on Thursday night.
Sources said some anti-social elements targeted the weaving units at Maruti industrial society in Pandesara by pelting stones and soda bottles at them.Within a few minutes, all the weaving units in the society were closed by the weavers. As the news spread to the adjoining industrial societies, the weavers closed their units there too.
Sources said textile workers led by some anti-social elements have been demanding increase in wages. While most of the weavers in the city have already implemented 10 paise per meter hike in the wages, the workers are demanding 20 paise per meter.
Leaders of the weaving community said police had picked up some miscreants from the industrial societies in Pandesara on the basis of suspicion. On Friday, around 700 textile workers from the closed units gheraoed Pandesara police station to demand release of the workers arrested by the police.
Leader of Pandesara weaving units, Ashish Gujarati, said, "Over two lakh powerloom machines in Pandesara and Bamroli have been shut due to Thursday's violence at Maruti industrial society. We have advised the weavers not to open the units till everything is sorted out."
Federation of Gujarat Weavers Association president Ashok Jirawala told TOI, "Most of the units in Pandesara and Bamroli are closed. These units constitute around 30 per cent of the total weaving sector in the city."