20 percent wage cut for rice millers
On 18 August, rice mill workers at several plants in Manachanallur, Tiruchi, Tamilnadu state began selective industrial action to demand an end to the company’s proposal to slash wages by 20 percent.

Management claims the wage cut is necessary because the Food Corporation of India is offering lower prices for hulling the rice. Yet this is rather a back to front argument; it is unclear why the company would rather agree to the low prices rather than back the workers and demand a higher price for processing the rice.

World Socialist Web Site, 21 August 2004