There were protests against retrenchment policies in the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway throughout 1931 and early 1932.
On 24 October 1932, a major strike erupted in the Mechanical Workshops of the Perambur branch of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway company.
The strike began on 24 October 1932 in Perambur demanding the reinstation of 93 railway workers who had been laid off, the previous year.
This was followed by a strike of the employees of engineering and mechanical workshops at Hubli in Bombay Presidency.
The strike was called off on 8 January 1933 at the instance of Jamnadas Mehta and V. V. Giri.