Kovai Mill Workers in Public Service

Abstract

Summary of a booklet "Kovai Mill Workers in Public Service", originally published in 1944, during the height of the Second World War, when mill workers were working under harsh conditions of food scarcity, insufficient wage, long working hours, etc. The summary includes - the gist of the Forward written by Com K Ramani and the General Secretary's Report. General Secretary's Report contains mill workers' struggle for Bonus during the war; efforts at building unity between Kovai and Singanallur workers; troubles faced by mill workers due to the plague epidemic; struggle to democratize co-operative stores' management; resolutions to increase productivity during the war; rise in basic wages; hospital benefits; ration of firewood to be sold; establishment of a 9-hour shift in all mills, etc.,