Strike over minimum tea wage

TT, Siliguri: A three-day strike called by the Joint Forum, an apex body of non-Trinamul tea unions, started in north Bengal's Terai and the Dooars on Tuesday over minimum wages.

Bengal labour department officials urged forum leaders at a meeting to withdraw the strike, but the request was turned down. Planters were not present at the meeting convened to discuss the minimum wage demand.

In the Terai, most gardens were closed. But in the Dooars, some workers, mostly Trinamul supporters, were seen working. Trinamul-backed unions had on Monday said they would not support the strike.

"We will continue the strike for the next two days as we want an immediate settlement of the minimum wage issue," forum convenor Ziaul Alam said as workers marched on Siliguri's streets.

An official of the Indian Tea Association said: "This is peak production time. If the strike continues, it will lead to huge losses."