Joint Forum calls for 48-hour strike from today

SNS, Siliguri, 10 November: Though the 12-hour general strike called by the BJP backed Terai-Dooars Cha Shramik Union failed to make much impact in tea plantations, normal life was affected in many parts of Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts and Mekhliganj sub-division in Cooch Behar today.

Sources at the Dooars Branch of the Indian Tea Association said the bandh had no impact in the tea plantations and workers carried on with their duties as in any normal day.

However, the Jalpaiguri district BJP president, Dipendra Pramanik, claimed that workers under the 

Progressive Tea Workers’ Union led by Tej Kumar Toppo supported the strike and did not join duties in Nagrakata and Malbazar areas.

Police detained around 100 party activists who were picketing on roads and other areas, Mr Pramanik claimed.

Notably, tea workers under the Joint Forum, an umbrella organization of 24 trade unions (except the Inttuc-backed trade union) will go on a 48-hour industrial strike from tomorrow.

The JF has appealed to the people to support tea workers and also observe a 12-hour general strike on 12 November in four districts, including Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar.

However, Darjeeling Hill areas have been left out of the purview of the general strike.

“We will go on a 48-hour industrial strike in total, but the Hill areas will be out of the purview of the general strike, following requests from school authorities, hoteliers, and tour and transport operators,” the advisor of the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) backed trade union, TC Roka, said.

A JF leader, Saman Pathak, said today’s strike called by the BJP was political and it aimed at breaking the unity among the tea workers. 

“The BJP could have extended support to us,” he said.

However, the working president of the Trinamul Tea Plantation Workers’ Union, Aloke Chakraborty, said: “Workers belonging to the Trinamul Congress will work tomorrow. 

“The JF should not go on a strike when the state has almost finalized the wage settlement and it is going to call a tripartite meeting shortly.”

Sources said Trinamul backed trade unions will join duties in protest against the 48-hour industrial strike.

It may be noted that state labour minister Moloy Ghatak had reportedly requested the JF leaders to defer the strike as the dialogue for wage settlement was underway.

“The JF is going on a strike after the state labour minister informed JF leaders about the tea workers’ wage increment of Rs 40 for three years. 

“Now the question is how can the JF ink the tripartite agreement after the strike?” a senior member of the plantation association said.

Sources said Trinamul-backed workers, including a section of the minority community, will join work in Banarhat, Alipurduar, Riabari, Daina, Songachhi, Mateli and other areas.

Four trade unions backed by the Trinamul are operating in this region separately.