Hill tea bonus set amid `sellout' slur

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, Darjeeling: The Darjeeling hill gardens have agreed to pay bonus at the rate of 15 per cent of a worker's annual earning but apart from the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's union, other unions refused to sign the agreement.

The Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) had earlier stated that they were "unable to enter into any negotiated settlement" on bonus rate citing loss of 70 per cent in its annual production due the 104-day statehood shutdown last year. The management had hint- ed that they would disburse bonus at the rate of 8.33 per cent. The Dooars gardens have agreed on 19.5 per cent.

However, following sustain pressure from the hill unions, the management held back-to-back meetings on Wednesday and Thursday in Calcutta.

Soon after the bonus negotiation members of the Joint Forum- a platform of all unions, except those of Morcha and TMC, alleged that the Morcha's union and the management had cheated them.

Amar Lama, leader of Jana Andolan Party said: "Suddenly at around 10.30 pm, a leader of the Morcha agreed on 15 per cent. The previous day all unions were talking about 20 percent (the highest permissible rate). We believe it was a got up game between the Morcha and the management." 

The Joint Forum members did not sign the agreement but added that they did not "walk out." CPM leader Saman Pathak, a former Darjeeling MP, also alleged the management broke the traditional practice of holding bonus meeting in Darjeeling and instead held it in Calcutta. 

"They informed us about the meeting late in the afternoon. We had to scurry to Calcutta for the meeting. The management probably did not want us to be present." Balam Tamang, president of Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union (Darjeeling sub-division committee), which is an affiliate of the Morcha, rejected the allegations. 

"The management refused to budge from 14.5 per cent and when the offer for 15 percent came, we took that offer as the meeting was heading nowhere," said Tamang.

Sandeep Mukherjee, principal adviser, Darjeeling Tea Association, said the bonus would be disbursed by October 10. The management also said the issue of disbursing arrears to workers by Diwali as demanded by the unions "could be favourably considered"..