Dooars tea garden reopens

TT, Dec. 16: A Dooars tea estate that had been shut for three months reopened today following a bipartite agreement signed between the management and trade unions yesterday.

A bought-leaf factory on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town closed down today following an altercation between the assistant manager and a worker.

In Naya Saylee garden, all 1,680 workers joined their work this morning and the management representatives also resumed regular activities.

On September 24, officials had left the garden after disagreements with the workers over bonus. While the labourers had demanded bonus at 16 per cent, the management had offered eight per cent. This led to protests.

Yesterday, a meeting was convened in the office of the Dooars branch of Indian Tea Planters' Association (ITPA) at Birpara in Alipurduar district. The estate in Nagrakata block of Malbazar subdivision is a member of the ITPA.

"It has been decided that the workers would get bonus at 8.33 per cent. They will get the money in March next year. The management will try to clear some other workers' dues in the next few months," an ITPA source# said.

The bought-leaf factory in Sebagram area on the outskirts of Jalpaiguri town with 100-odd workers was shut today.

"Yesterday, a woman worker was given the task of cleaning a site. She refused to do it for no reason and some workers joined her. They demonstrated and abused some of our staff," factory manager Prabir Majumdar said.