CM: Unions in 'dirty games' in tea sector

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, June 10: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee today accused her political rivals of playing "dirty games" to foment trouble in Bengal's tea belt, referring to the industry strike called by trade unions on June 12 and 13.

The Joint Forum, an apex body of 24 tea trade unions excepting the one backed by the Trinamul Congress, have called the strike to demand minimum wage.

The Bengal government is yet to fix the minimum wage in the tea sector. The labour department is holding meetings of the minimum wage advisory board but no decision has been taken so far.

The Joint Forum, which has Left, Congress and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha unions, has appealed to the residents of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar, as well as those in Islampur (North Dinajpur) and Mekhliganj (Cooch Behar), to join the 12-hour strike on June 13.

"The CPM, Congress and the BJP are indulging in dirty games. The state government is doing its best to help tea workers. When the labour department has initiated talks, there is no reason to call strikes. We want to tell the tea workers that the political interests of CPM, Congress and BJP leaders might be fulfilled through the strike but it will not help the labourers," Mamata told a news conference this afternoon at Uttarkanya, the north Bengal secretariat.

Mamata trained guns on the Centre for its failure to implement its announcement of the acquisition of seven Duncans gardens in the Dooars by the tea board. " Keno adhigrahan korche na (Why are they not acquiring the gardens?)" she asked.

The chief minister asserted that after coming to power, the Trinamul government had ensured that tea wage rates were revised periodically.

"If the tea industry faces a crisis because of the strike and similar moves, these political parties will have to take the blame. The state government is against any strike and we feel it is illegal. The union leaders should understand that trade stability should be ensured. No union can sustain unless trade sustains," Mamata said.

Sources said the issue of minimum wage could be a factor in the elections to the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration later this year and the panchayat elections next year.

"The trade union of the Morcha is a part of the Joint Forum. Leaders of the union have made it clear that if the state does not fix and implement the minimum wage, they will launch a movement in the hills. There are several GTA constituencies where the votes of those associated with the tea industry will be the deciding factor," a source said.

The Trinamul-backed union has announced that it will oppose the strike.

"It is an acid test for the party and the government as only the Trinamul-backed union is opposing the strike. On June 12 and 13, Trinamul leaders will get a clear idea on how far they have penetrated the tea belt and more importantly, whether the workforce has listened to the chief minister's appeal," a senior trade union leader said.

The tea planters' fraternity appreciated the chief minister's comments.

"It is the peak season for the industry and any disruption in work will mean losses of several crores. We feel tea workers should respond to the chief minister's call and join work on the strike days," a planter in Siliguri said.