PAPANASAM LABOUR UNION Vs. STATE OF MADRAS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is a petition by the Papanasam Labour Union for the issue of a writ of mandamus directing the State of Madras to refer all the matters referred to in a strike notice issued by the petitioner to the Madura Mills Co. , Ltd. , for adjudication under the Industrial Disputes Act.

(2.) MOST of the workers in the Madura Mills Co. , Ltd. , belong to one or other of eight unions. The petitioner is one of such unions. The Madura Mills Co. , Ltd. , is engaged in the production of cotton textiles, and, the cotton textile industry has been declared to be a public utility service for the purposes of the Industrial disputes Act, 1947. On 3rd May 1956 the petitioner served notice on the Madura mills Co. Ltd. , that the workers would go on strike unless the following seven demands were conceded: 1. Bonus o six months basic wages for the year 1955. 2. Minimum basic wage of unskilled workers to be increased to Rs. 30 per mensem.

(3.) DEARNESS allowance to be raised from three annas to four annas per point of increase In the cost of living index over 100.