The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) has threatened an indefinite hunger strike in Darjeeling from September 29 to protest the state government’s failure to disburse bonus among workers in the hill tea gardens owned by West Bengal Tea Development Corporation (WBTDC).
The Morcha has alleged that although the state agreed to pay the bonus at the rate of 20 per cent and disburse it by September 20, it backed out from its “written commitment” at the last moment.
“Till 2007, the WBTDC paid bonus at the rate of 8.33 per cent. But from 2008, the government agreed to give bonus according to the rate fixed by Darjeeling Tea Association. An assurance was given to the Morcha following a hunger strike by WBTDC garden workers in Darjeeling,” Milan Pradhan, spokesman of the Morcha backed Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, said.
The West Bengal Tea Development Corporation runs Pandam, Rangaroon and Rangmuk-Cedar gardens in the hills and the Hilla and Mahua estates in the Dooars.
“On August 20, Swapan Kumar Khan, managing director of the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation, issued an authorisation letter to DTA to negotiate bonus for the three hill estates. On September 3, it was agreed that the hill gardens would get bonus at the rate of 20 per cent and it would be disbursed within September 20,” Pradhan said. But despite the written assurance, the bonus has not been paid. “On September 17, the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation issued a notice (to the management stating bonus would be paid at the rate of 10 per cent. The letter clearly shows the government has backed out from its own written commitment,” he said.
Pradhan said the payment was uncertain as the letter said the bonus would be given “pending receipt of approval from the government and necessary fund in this respect”.
“Such last-minute change is unacceptable. We will not accept anything less than 20 per cent. If the issue is not resolved by Saturday (September 27), we will be forced to sit on an indefinite hunger strike from Monday,” said Suraj Subba, the union’s general secretary.
The five gardens have 3,200-odd workers. Trade unions, including Trinamul’s wing, have threatened a movement protesting the non-payment of bonus. Today, tea unions demonstrated at Hilla.
“Only a week or so is left for Puja and no one has got bonus,” Durga Mahali, secretary of the Hilla unit of the Trinamul-backed Terai Dooars Plantation Workers’ Union, said. Citu’s Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union has said it will not accept bonus below 20 per cent.
Ashish Rudra, manager of Hilla and an official with WBTDC, said: “In all likelihood, bonus will be paid at 20 per cent by this week.”
Source: Telegraph
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| GJM threateneds indefinite hunger strike threat over tea bonus |
“Till 2007, the WBTDC paid bonus at the rate of 8.33 per cent. But from 2008, the government agreed to give bonus according to the rate fixed by Darjeeling Tea Association. An assurance was given to the Morcha following a hunger strike by WBTDC garden workers in Darjeeling,” Milan Pradhan, spokesman of the Morcha backed Darjeeling Terai Dooars Plantation Labour Union, said.
The West Bengal Tea Development Corporation runs Pandam, Rangaroon and Rangmuk-Cedar gardens in the hills and the Hilla and Mahua estates in the Dooars.
“On August 20, Swapan Kumar Khan, managing director of the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation, issued an authorisation letter to DTA to negotiate bonus for the three hill estates. On September 3, it was agreed that the hill gardens would get bonus at the rate of 20 per cent and it would be disbursed within September 20,” Pradhan said. But despite the written assurance, the bonus has not been paid. “On September 17, the West Bengal Tea Development Corporation issued a notice (to the management stating bonus would be paid at the rate of 10 per cent. The letter clearly shows the government has backed out from its own written commitment,” he said.
Pradhan said the payment was uncertain as the letter said the bonus would be given “pending receipt of approval from the government and necessary fund in this respect”.
“Such last-minute change is unacceptable. We will not accept anything less than 20 per cent. If the issue is not resolved by Saturday (September 27), we will be forced to sit on an indefinite hunger strike from Monday,” said Suraj Subba, the union’s general secretary.
The five gardens have 3,200-odd workers. Trade unions, including Trinamul’s wing, have threatened a movement protesting the non-payment of bonus. Today, tea unions demonstrated at Hilla.
“Only a week or so is left for Puja and no one has got bonus,” Durga Mahali, secretary of the Hilla unit of the Trinamul-backed Terai Dooars Plantation Workers’ Union, said. Citu’s Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union has said it will not accept bonus below 20 per cent.
Ashish Rudra, manager of Hilla and an official with WBTDC, said: “In all likelihood, bonus will be paid at 20 per cent by this week.”
Source: Telegraph
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