The Hindu Business Line : Plantation strike in Kerala: Talks fail to make headway

A MEETING of the Plantation Labour Committee held here on Wednesday failed to break the impasse resulting from the labourers launching a strike from last Monday.

Taking part in the proceedings, a representative of the Association of Planters of Kerala (APK) expressed the latter's willingness for a discussion with the striking unions but only on condition that the strike is withdrawn. The industry was not prepared to sit down for talks under pressure or duress, he informed the meeting.

The process of wage negotiations had not even started when the labourers decided to go ahead with their strike move. Therefore, the management requested the trade unions to withdraw from the strike and join for discussions.

The APK representative merely reiterated the association's stand in Wednesday's meeting which was inconclusive.

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr A.E. Joseph, Chairman, APK, had warned that the strike could only serve to plunge the plantation sector further into a crisis. He asked them to respond "in a more responsible manner" in the interests of both the workers themselves and the State economy at large.

The plantation industry in the State had been going through a crisis ever since 1997. Rubber prices had looked up for a while in recent times but had dropped down in what is being seen as the beginning of another lean phase.

The estate managements had defied this and proceeded to settle the workers' demand with regard to dearness allowance. This would be restored in rubber estates on condition that the workers would cooperate with the managements in maintaining a peaceful atmosphere in the industry.

Neither did the managements oppose a revision in wages, provided workers in rubber estates were willing to accept a productivity-linked wage structure. But, the trade unions chose to turn down the proposal, Mr Joseph said.