TAMIL NADU-With Leaders Like These

THE nearly 1.5 lakh workers of the 208 textile mills in Tamil Nadu went On a month-long strike from February 1, 1974, demanding inter alia, 35 paise per point above 340 points in the Madras cost of living index as variable DA and an increase of Rs 10 in the fixed DA and Rs 35 in the basic wage. The strike came more than a year and a half after the appointment of the Arunagiri Textile Conciliation Commission, consequent on a strike in February 1972. The Commission had failed to produce a unanimous report. The proposals put forward by the Commission's chairman, though far from favourable to the workers, were rejected by the millowners. When the government continued to drag its feet over the issue, the workers struck work. Then came promptly the government's reference of the dispute to adjudication which thrilled the hearts of the millowners. Barring the INTUC and the Workers' Progressive Federation of the DMK, all the unions