After a tripartite meeting by the state government failed to clear the impasse over reaching an agreement regarding wage negotiations of thousands of tea workers, a three day strike was called by the joint forum of several trade unions starting August 7. The strike has been called at all the tea gardens of the Dooars and Terai in North Bengal.
The tea trade unions have for long been demanding the implementation of minimum wages. In yesterday’s meeting between the union and garden owners convened by the government, matters failed to reach a resolution. Left party unions like the CITU, INTUC, BMS and others had refused to accept a three rupee hike that the planters had advocated. The unions’ demand for an industrial status was also opposed by the planters. The Trinamool Congress union reportedly did not take part in the strike.
Most of the tea estates were shut in response to the 72 hour strike except some in the vicinities of Naxalbari and Khoribari where the Trinamool Congress-led unions are strong.
