Darjeeling: The
GJM-affiliated Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labor Union has
called a pen-down agitation in three tea gardens presently under the
West Bengal Tea Development Corporation to press for workers’ demands.
The agitation plans were finalised after
prolonged discussions at a meeting attended by the trade union and
representatives of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. “We have
been repeatedly requesting concerned authorities by way of telephonic
conversation and written communication to meet the demands of the
workers of three tea gardens that are currently run by the WBTDC, but to
no avail. The workers’ plight is genuine and we have decided to extend
support,” said DTDPLU president PT Sherpa.
Workers of Rangmukh-Cedar, Rangeyrung and Pandam tea gardens will observe an hour-long pen-down campaign from July 15 to 17. This will be followed by a two-hour pen-down on July 18, 19 and 20. Further, on July 22, 23 and 24, the employees will organise a four-hour long pen-down agitation and if their demands are still not addressed, they will launch an indefinite pen-down agitation from July 25.
The DTDPLU has demanded for release of pending arrears of the workers and salary of staff personnel of the three gardens that have been withheld since April 2011. “The daily wages were revised from April 1, 2011 across all tea gardens of the Hills and the new pay even implemented in other gardens barring these three. We want concerned authorities to enforce the new wages immediately,” said Sherpa.
The WBTDC in February 2012 had agreed to increase the daily wage of workers of its tea gardens in accordance to that of the remaining 87 gardens under the Darjeeling Tea Association. However, even after 10 months, the agreement has not been implemented.
The DTDPLU, after considerable negotiations, had got the management of the 87 tea gardens under the DTA to hike the daily wage from Rs 67 to Rs 90, which came into effect from April 2011. It was also decided that the salary of other staff and sub-staff personnel would be increased by 33 percent from the same period. Further, the WBTDC had agreed to implement this across the gardens under its management. “There was a 10 month delay in the implementation of the agreed revised wages and salary. Arrears have now cropped up also. The WBTDC had agreed to increase the wages from February but has not done so yet,” said Sherpa.
DTDPLU spokesperson Milan Pradhan said the agitation would
continue till the demands are fulfilled. “We cannot ignore the garden workers’ problems as they are our brethren. We will not stop our pen-down agitations until the demands are met,” he said.
Presently, Pandam has about 268 workers and staff personnel, Rangmukh-Cedar 1,907, while Rangeyrung has 199 workers in their payroll. (EOIC)
Workers of Rangmukh-Cedar, Rangeyrung and Pandam tea gardens will observe an hour-long pen-down campaign from July 15 to 17. This will be followed by a two-hour pen-down on July 18, 19 and 20. Further, on July 22, 23 and 24, the employees will organise a four-hour long pen-down agitation and if their demands are still not addressed, they will launch an indefinite pen-down agitation from July 25.
The DTDPLU has demanded for release of pending arrears of the workers and salary of staff personnel of the three gardens that have been withheld since April 2011. “The daily wages were revised from April 1, 2011 across all tea gardens of the Hills and the new pay even implemented in other gardens barring these three. We want concerned authorities to enforce the new wages immediately,” said Sherpa.
The WBTDC in February 2012 had agreed to increase the daily wage of workers of its tea gardens in accordance to that of the remaining 87 gardens under the Darjeeling Tea Association. However, even after 10 months, the agreement has not been implemented.
The DTDPLU, after considerable negotiations, had got the management of the 87 tea gardens under the DTA to hike the daily wage from Rs 67 to Rs 90, which came into effect from April 2011. It was also decided that the salary of other staff and sub-staff personnel would be increased by 33 percent from the same period. Further, the WBTDC had agreed to implement this across the gardens under its management. “There was a 10 month delay in the implementation of the agreed revised wages and salary. Arrears have now cropped up also. The WBTDC had agreed to increase the wages from February but has not done so yet,” said Sherpa.
DTDPLU spokesperson Milan Pradhan said the agitation would
continue till the demands are fulfilled. “We cannot ignore the garden workers’ problems as they are our brethren. We will not stop our pen-down agitations until the demands are met,” he said.
Presently, Pandam has about 268 workers and staff personnel, Rangmukh-Cedar 1,907, while Rangeyrung has 199 workers in their payroll. (EOIC)
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