Darjeeling Tea bonus Tripartite Talk fails in Kolkata

Wepen, 30 September  2019: The tripartite   talks  in Kolkata  over the  Darjeeling  tea industry  bonus  issue  failed  on Monday.  Binay Tamang. President.  Gorkha Janmukti  Morcha  has threatened   to launch  a fast  unto  death  from  October  6 expressing solidarity  with the  tea garden workers.

Earlier  5 rounds  of talks  between  the management    and operating  tea  trade  unions  had failed  in Darjeeling  with the  unions  demanding   20% bonus  and the management   not wanting  to climb  up from  10.50%. The tea trade unions then had asked the Government to intervene to resolve the stalemate.

There are around 60000 workers employed in the Darjeeling tea gardens. Along with their dependents the  number stands at more than 2 lakh.

Malay Ghatak. Labour, Minister, Government of West Bengal convened a meeting on Monday in the new secretariat building in Kolkata.

The trade union representatives staged a walkout with the Management not agreeing to climb up above 15 % while the unions stated that they were demanding at least 19%. The next date of meeting has been fixed on October 17.

We staged a walkout. Management is trying to break the workers' unity with certain gardens planning to disburse 15% bonus assuring that they will pay the remaining amount (as per the final negotiations) later. We appeal to workers not to accept this. The agitation programmes that had been announced earlier will also be initiated from Tuesday" stated Amar Lama, trade union leader.

The previously announced agitation programmes include blockade on tea dispatch from the gardens; Go Slow; gate meetings and pen down by the staff in the garden offices.

"We staged  a walkout.   Management   is trying  to break the workers'  unity with  certain  gardens  planning  to disburse   15% bonus  assuring that  they will  pay the  remaining   amount  (as per the final  negotiations)    later. We appeal  to workers  not to accept  this.  The agitation programmes   that  had been announced  earlier  will  also  be initiated  from Tuesday'   stated  Amar  Lama, trade  union  leader.

The previously  announced   agitation   programmes   include  blockade  on tea dispatch   from  the gardens;  Go Slow: gate  meetings   and pen down  by the staff  in the garden  offices.

Binoy Tamang,  President.  GJM  has issued  an ultimatum   to the  management.   "I will  sit In a fast  unto death  from  6th October if the issue is not sorted out by October 4. The tea garden owners will have to take responsibility of the consequences. The management have refused to listen to the government's request also. The year 2018 to 2019 saw no political upheaval in the Hills. We see no reason why the management cannot pay the 20% bonus' stated Tamang.

The local economy is set to  receive a major brunt with bonus not being disbursed before the festive season.

"It is very unfortunate that the issue could not be resolved amicably'  stated Sandeep Mukherjee, Principal Advisor, Darjeeling Tea Association.