Tea forum brews agitation plans

TT, 28 Feb 2019, Alipurduar/Siliguri: Tea trade unions other than those backed by Trinamul and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha plan a series of agitations next month minimum wages and to protest problems at some tea gardens of the Duncan Goenka Group.

Under the banner of Joint Forum, the apex body of tea trade unions in north Bengal, the unions have decided "On March 7 and 8, workers in all the tea gardens across north Bengal will organise a demonstration in front of the garden office for 30 minutes. On March 10, we will hold a convention in Siliguri on the same demand. At the convention, we will also announce dates when the workers will march to central and state government offices in different blocks, sub-divisions and districts and will join in demonstration," said Ziaul Alam, convener, Joint Forum.

"We have also come to know that workers serving in tea gardens of the Duncan Goenka Group are not receiv- Workers of Birpara take out a rally on Wednesday demanding payment of wages. (Anirban Choudhury) ing wages for past couple of months. There are reports that managerial staff have left from some of the gardens during the past few days. The state labour department has convened a meeting on the gardens of the group in Calcutta on March 1. If no decision is reached at the meeting and workers continue to face problems, we will draw up fresh plans to launch a movement on the issue," he added.

The situation presents a new challenge for Trinamul ahead of the parliamentary elections as the government is yet to fix minimum wages.

"As most constituent unions of the Forum are backed by anti-Trinamul parties, it might intensify its movement. It would be a challenge for Trinamul and its trade union leaders to counter the charge and ensure that there is no swing in support ahead of the polls," said an observer.

Meanwhile, workers of Duncans have started holding protests, demanding immediate payment of their dues.

On Wednesday, the workers of Birpara tea estate took a rally in Birpara. They went to the office of the assistance labour commissioner. In at least six gardens of Duncans, which are in Terai and Dooars, the workers have alleged that managerial employees have moved out the gardens, leaving them in a fix.

"In January 2016, the Centre had decided to take over some gardens of the group. The process however, suffered and the group approached the court. Later, the state government tried to take credit that it could facilitate reopening some of the gardens but now, there is an apprehension that the gardens have been again left abandoned," said John Barla, a BJP union leader..