Tea unions have called for a three-day strike in estates in Dooars and Terai regions in West Bengal from August 10. The strike has been called after failure of another round of wage negotiation. According to industry sources, a section of workers have also imposed blockade on tea despatches from several gardens beginning this evening.

Tea unions have also invited the workers of tea estates in Darjeeling to join the strike. According to the State Labour Minister, Mr Prunendu Basu, the State Government had proposed a minimum wage of Rs 130 on a par with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. This is nearly double the current wage of Rs 67.50 a day.

Tea industry – represented by the Consultative Committee of Plantation Associations (CCPA) – declined to accept such a steep hike. The CCPA offered a hike at the rate of Rs 8 a year for the next three years from the existing wage of Rs 67.50 a day.

The CCPA and the labour unions were engaged in a tripartite negotiation involving the State Labour Commissioner on Thursday. This was followed by a bi-partite negotiation on Friday.

“I am told that the negotiations ended inconclusive with the industry not accepting such a steep hike. The unions have threatened to go on a strike from August 10. I have assured unions to take up the issue with the tea garden owners again on August 9,” Mr Basu told Business Line.

Confirming the development, industry sources said that the tea unions demanded increase in wages from Rs. 150 to Rs 350 a day as part of the negotiation to implement a wage pact with effect from this April. The Progressive Tea Workers Union (PTWU) backed by Adivasi Vikash Parishad, enjoying popular support in the tea growing region of the state, previously imposed blockades on tea despatches demanding wage hike in end July.

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