Darjeeling, October 2: In protest against the tea garden management’s advisory for tea garden workers to accept 16 per cent bonus instead of twenty per cent , the tea garden workers observed a Chakkka jam movement in several places in the hills including Rohini area in Kurseong on Wednesday. According to their trade union leader, “The workers are demanding 20 percent bonus.” Notably, a fifth round of tripartite talks on the bonus issue ended without an agreement on Tuesday.
The meeting was held at Siliguri’s Sramik Bhawan between worker unions, planters and state labour department. A protester at the Chhaka Jam movement, Gracy Rai speaking to ANI said that, “the state government is not increasing the bonus for tea gardeners. Despite repeated demands of twenty per cent of their wages , the government is indifferent towards their demands.” Surendra Tamang, trade union leader said, “The workers will continue their protest against the advisory of the state government and will not rest till their demand is met.” Darjeeling: Tea Workers Trade Union Calls 12-Hour Strike, Demand 20% Bonus Amid Industry Crisis in West Bengal (Watch Videos).
Trade Union Leader Saman Phatak Comments on Hike Offered
#WATCH | Saman Phatak, Trade Union leader says, ” Today they (Tea garden management) called us for meeting…we hoped that govt will listen to people and labourers, we kept sitting…we have demanded 20% (bonus)…they said 16%…we refused to accept it…labourers will hold… pic.twitter.com/gGwUUR9zu4
— ANI (@ANI) October 1, 2024
Another trade union leader Bikram Rai also spoke to ANI and said that, “The protestors are hell bent on sticking to their demands. Our demands are genuine and we urge the government to listen to us. We will not back until the government fulfil our demands for enhanced bonus. We will intensify our agitation and force the government to comply.” On October 1, 2024, the West Bengal government issued an advisory to tea garden managements to pay a 16 per cent bonus to workers in Darjeeling, Kurseong, and Kalimpong Hills. However, the workers’ unions remained unmoved and threatened to intensify their agitation. Road Accident in Darjeeling: Speeding SUV Mows Down Pilgrims in West Bengal’s Bagdogra, 6 Killed.
The state government said that the 16 per cent bonus was an industry-wide settlement, and that disbursement had already begun in North Bengal. The tea gardens in the hills had previously agreed to pay 8.33 per cent bonus, but workers in North Bengal were unwilling to accept less than 20 per cent. The management agreed to pay 13 per cent, but the unions remained firm. The tea industry is a major economic driver for Darjeeling and North Bengal, with over 500,000 people directly or indirectly involved.
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, Today News 24 Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
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