1,250 jobless after tea garden shuts: Management blames workers, trade unions question timing

 Sources said that the tea estate turned into a sick or economically unviable unit over the past few months

TT, Siliguri, 13.10.23 : The management of Raimatang tea estate in Kalchini block of Alipurduar announced suspension of work in the garden on Wednesday night, citing lawlessness in the garden.

The decision has come as a jolt for 1,250 workers, who turned jobless ahead of Durga Puja.

Sources said that the tea estate turned into a sick or economically unviable unit over the past few months.

“The management made investments in the plantations, the factory and other areas while meeting all other obligations. However, there was no cooperation from workers, which worsened the financial condition,” said a source.

The notice also cites a section of workers who resorted to acts such as confining the managerial staff, physically assaulting them, barging into their homes and intimidating them.

“Late on October 8 night, an unidentified worker entered the residence of the technical assistant and assaulted him. He suffered serious injuries. This is undesirable and has posed a question on the safety and security of management executives. The role of local trade union leaders is also not up to the mark,” the source added.

The source said that in such a situation, the management decided to announce the suspension of operations in the garden with immediate effect.

The decision has drawn criticism from trade union leaders. They have said that instead of paying the workers their annual bonus so that they celebrate the festivities like in the other gardens, the management left them jobless.

“We have always cooperated with the management. They should be restrained from such a step. The state labour department should immediately intervene and convene a tripartite meeting to expedite the reopening of the garden. We want the garden to reopen ahead of Durga Puja,” said Omdas Lohara, the secretary of Trinamul Cha Bagan Workers Union at the garden.

Officials of the labour department said they were aware of the problem in Raimatang tea estate. “A meeting would be convened soon to resolve the impasse,” said one of them.