Tea workers’ strike

SNS, Darjeeling, 15 July : The GJMM affiliated Darjeeling Terai Doars Plantation Labour Union (DTDPLU) has called a phase-wise pen-down strike at Rangmukh-Cedar, Rangeyrung and Pandam tea plantations of the Hills allegedly against the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation (WBTDC)’s failure to clear the arrears of the workers of these gardens that have accumulated to about Rs 2 crore. 

According to the salary and wages agreement reached on 1 April 2011, the union alleges that the WBTDC has still not implemented the agreement fully, in their three tea gardens in the Hills. 

“The WBTDC has not cleared the arrears of the labourers and the sub-staff accumulated before the agreement. However, they receive their wages raised from 67 to 90 as per the new norms but the clerical, medical and technical staff of these gardens has not received their pay according to the new agreement. 

As per the new agreement, the salary of the clerical, medical and technical staff should be increased by 34 per cent. The total accumulated arrears is more than Rs 1.5 crore and less than Rs 2 crore,” said the DTDPLU president, Mr PT Sherpa. 

"The agreement will expire on 31 March 2014," he added. 

The leaders have released the papers where they have mentioned that the workers of Rangmukh-Cedar, Rangeyrung and Pandam tea gardens will observe an hour-long pen-down campaign from 15 to 17 July followed by a two-hour pen-down strike on 18, 19 and 20 July. 

Further, on 22, 23 and 24 July, the employees will organise a four-hour long pen-down agitation and if their demands are still not addressed, they will launch an indefinite pen-down agitation from 25 July. 

Mr Sherpa said: "The private sectors has followed the norms as per the agreement for the other tea plantations but the WBTDC which owns these three gardens of the Hills has not abided fully by the agreement.” 

The managing director of WBTDC refused to comment. 

Mr Sherpa said the pen down strike will continue further until the arrears are cleared with a revision in the salary as per the agreement. 

At present, Pandam has about 268 workers and staff personnel, Rangmukh-Cedar 1,907, while Rangeyrung has 199 workers on their payroll. 

The Hills comprise 87 tea plantations. It may be mentioned that a lock-out has been declared at the Ringtong tea plantation.