Two-garden `pact' in tea bonus battle

VIVEK CHHETRI, TT, 2 October 2019, Darjeeling: Garden-level union leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (Binay Tamang camp) and Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) have signed a "part-payment of bonus" agreement with the Tindharia Tea Estate in Kurseong for an interim bonus of 12 per cent, though the rate has not been finalised for the Darjeeling Tea industry.

The revelation has come as a shocker as central committee leaders of all hill trade unions are trying to put up a united face in this year's bonus negotiations.

At a meeting in Calcutta on Monday, the managements had offered bonus at the rate 15 per cent of a worker's annual earnings. The unions climbed down from 20 per cent to 19 per cent, but no further. The meeting failed.

Multiple sources confirmed to The Telegraph that garden-level leaders of the two prominent hill parties signed an agreement with the Tindharia management in the third week of last month and the payments were made on September 25.

The Tindharia agreement is being used by hill tea garden owners to draw up a new strategy. "A garden offered 12 per cent part-bonus and it was agreed. Representatives of various tea owners met today and offered to pay 12 per cent part-bonus by Friday. If the industry and unions agree to a higher bonus rate later, the rest would be subsequently paid to the workers," said a source in the management.

Central committee members of both the Morcha (Binay camp) and GNLF said they were not consulted by the garden leaders. Bharat Thakuri, general secretary, Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union (Binay camp), said: "After learning about the agreement, our branch committee has removed two leaders, Dawa Tamang and Bikram TamangD.B. Gurung, president, Himalayan Plantation Work- ers Union (HPWU) of the GNLF, said: "Sanjay Tamang, president of our unit, said he had not signed the document. We have, however, suspended Pradip Lama from the party and showcaused himAmar Lama, bureau member of the JAP, said: "If our workers accept 12 per cent part-bonus, the management might use it as a precedentWith the next bonus meeting scheduled for October 17, the bonus appears likely to be finalised only after Puja.

Unions leaders have decided to start a relay hunger strike from Wednesday, stop dispatch of tea and gherao the Darjeeling Tea Association and Indian Tea Association offices in Darjeeling. "We appeal to our unit leaders to hold peaceful demonstrations," said J.B. Tamang, working president, DTDPLU.

Morcha leader Tamang has threatened an indefinite hunger strike from October 6 if the bonus issue is not settled by Friday.