Diamond unit staff call off stir after hike promise

Surat: Around 500 diamond artisans of Laxmi Diamond went on strike and stayed away from work on Thursday demanding a hike in salary. Later in the day, the workers held a meeting with the diamond polishing and manufacturing unit and decided to call off the strike.
The workers were assured of a salary hike as per their demand after which they agreed to return to work. “For the past few months, the workers were worried over no hike. After various attempts when we did not get any reply, workers started staying away from work since Wednesday and more workers joined the strike Thursday,” said one of the workers.
Over 2,000 workers work in the unit and around 500 of them joined the dharna. Few workers continued working.
Bhavesh Tank, vice-president of Diamond Worker Union, said: “The workers normally get a salary hike in January in the polishing unit. But this year, they did not get any. Hence they went on strike and after discussion they reached a compromise.” tnn