Siliguri: Tea industry in West Bengal is heading towards major uncertainty as over 7 lakh tea workers plan to launch an aggressive protest, including calls for an idefinite strike, demanding an immediate resolution of unsettled wages by June 25.
Siliguri: Tea industry in West Bengal is heading towards major uncertainty as over 7 lakh tea workers plan to launch an aggressive protest, including calls for an indefinite strike, demanding an immediate resolution of unsettled wages by June 25.
Despite numerous meetings, seminars and symposiums, negotiation have failed to come up with an amicable solution for the prolonged dispute over wages since the past four years.
“Now pushed to the brink, we will give ultimatum to the government on June 9 and look for alternative steps from June 14. If positive outcome does not come by the 25th, we will go forward with an aggressive movement. It may also include the calling of an indefinite strike, if needed,” said Saman Pathak Centre of Indian Trade Unions, West Bengal state Working Committee member and a major functionary in the movement.
As per existing wage settlement practice that has been followed since 1977, wages are negotiated for a term of three years. The uncertainty began at the end of 2011-14 term.
Asking for a change in the whole system, almost all trade unions formed a joint forum and demanded wage as per the Minimum Wage Act, thereby, replacing the system of negotiation. INTTUC, the trade union front of state’s ruling party TMC, however, is not a part of the forum.
After strongly opposing it through the nine rounds of meetings during the initial one year, the West Bengal government finally formed a committee constituted by stakeholders, including those represeting the planters, workers and the government. The committee was tasled with the responsibility of proposing a new wage structure as per the Minimum Wage Act.
"But things stopped there", said senior INTUC leader Alok Chakroborty adding that everyone seems to have "completely fogotten about the matter".
“Any populist settlement taken up by the government in haste will come as unjustified financial overload on planters. On the other side, delay in settlement will instigate workers for strike,” said veteran planters.
Monsoon contributes 70% to the annual 300 million kg processed tea output in Bengal. Thus, “Strike will cause production loss of near 10 million kg per week. It will be too difficult to absorb,” said Mahendra Bansal, Chairman Terai Indian Planters Association.
Eventually, “Planters are now cornered from both sides. We are ready to accept any wage structure under any system. But, that should be reasonable and rational,” said veteran planter K K Mintri.
Despite numerous meetings, seminars and symposiums, negotiation have failed to come up with an amicable solution for the prolonged dispute over wages since the past four years.
“Now pushed to the brink, we will give ultimatum to the government on June 9 and look for alternative steps from June 14. If positive outcome does not come by the 25th, we will go forward with an aggressive movement. It may also include the calling of an indefinite strike, if needed,” said Saman Pathak Centre of Indian Trade Unions, West Bengal state Working Committee member and a major functionary in the movement.
As per existing wage settlement practice that has been followed since 1977, wages are negotiated for a term of three years. The uncertainty began at the end of 2011-14 term.
Asking for a change in the whole system, almost all trade unions formed a joint forum and demanded wage as per the Minimum Wage Act, thereby, replacing the system of negotiation. INTTUC, the trade union front of state’s ruling party TMC, however, is not a part of the forum.
After strongly opposing it through the nine rounds of meetings during the initial one year, the West Bengal government finally formed a committee constituted by stakeholders, including those represeting the planters, workers and the government. The committee was tasled with the responsibility of proposing a new wage structure as per the Minimum Wage Act.
"But things stopped there", said senior INTUC leader Alok Chakroborty adding that everyone seems to have "completely fogotten about the matter".
“Any populist settlement taken up by the government in haste will come as unjustified financial overload on planters. On the other side, delay in settlement will instigate workers for strike,” said veteran planters.
Monsoon contributes 70% to the annual 300 million kg processed tea output in Bengal. Thus, “Strike will cause production loss of near 10 million kg per week. It will be too difficult to absorb,” said Mahendra Bansal, Chairman Terai Indian Planters Association.
Eventually, “Planters are now cornered from both sides. We are ready to accept any wage structure under any system. But, that should be reasonable and rational,” said veteran planter K K Mintri.