Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Binay Tamang on Sunday said his party
would no longer “recognise” the Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA) and the
Indian Tea Association (ITA) for talks, accusing the planters’ bodies
of working like “brokers” and precipitating the recent bonus crisis.
The
Darjeeling Tea Industry has 87 tea gardens, of which 60-odd are members
of the DTA and the rest of the ITA. A few are unattached. These
associations usually represent the industry and intervene when problems
arise in member-gardens.
“The Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation
Labour Union (the Binay camp’s labour arm) and our party will not
recognise the Darjeeling Tea Association and the Indian Tea Association
henceforth. We will directly talk to the owners regarding problems in
gardens,” said Tamang. He added that “they (the planters’ associations)
have become like brokers and were the ones to create the tea bonus
crisis”.
Tamang reached Darjeeling on Sunday following treatment
in Siliguri after the recent hunger strike over the 20 per cent bonus
demand that the planters eventually agreed to following an agitation
spanning weeks.
Sources said the gardens pay an annual membership to the two
associations based on production. An official from one of the
associations refused comment on Tamang’s statement.
Observers,
however, believe that it would be difficult for the owners to be
involved in all garden problems directly. These associations also
represent the owners at government meetings.
Tamang, who hinted
that he would be present at a November meeting where the date for
disbursement of the remaining 8 per cent bonus to garden workers will be
finalised, said it would be better if officials of the planters’
associations stayed away from the talks. “It will be better if the
association officials are not present in that meeting,” said Tamang.
All trade unions from Darjeeling had jointly agitated for the 20 per cent bonus.
Tamang,
however, made it clear that he was not trying to take credit for
ensuring 20 per cent bonus, even though it was being paid in two
instalments. “It was a joint movement and a joint victory. Credit will
go jointly to all the trade unions. I am not trying to attend the
meeting to take personal credit.”
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