Three lakh tea garden workers observe one-day token strike

JALPAIGURI: Around three lakh workers in 300 tea gardens of North Bengal and Doars area today observed a one-day's token strike demanding renewal of their wage agreement, a top union leader claimed.

"All the tea gardens in North Bengal and Doars area were closed today. No work took place in any of the tea gardens as no worker reported for work," claimed Chitta Dey, Convenor of the Coordination Committee of the Plantation Workers Union, an umbrella organisation of tea garden workers.

Dey alleged that due to the stubborn attitude of the Tea Planters Association negotiations have failed and they may go for an indefinite strike.

He threatened that if Tea Planters Association failed to to accept the wage renewal agreement by August 18, then the tea workers would go on an indefinite strike.

In West Bengal the tea garden workers get only Rs 53 per day while in other states such as Kerala the workers get Rs 101 per day.

The other demands of the Coordination Committee of the Plantation Workers Union are supply of regular ration to the workers, better health care facilities, drinking water facility and labour quarters.