Tea workers change tea gardens

Over 100 permanent workers of Redbank Tea Estate in Banarhat, Jalpaiguri, have joined the adjacent garden of Surendranagar as casual labourers, sparking a row between Citu and Intuc-affiliated unions.

The workers come from Salboni, a division of the Redbank tea estate with 150 hectares of plantation. This morning, an altercation broke out between the two unions when members of the Citu-affiliated operations and maintenance committee (OMC) of Redbank went to the Salboni division to dissuade the labourers from going over to Surendranagar.

“When we went there, a few toughs, whom we suspect to be accomplices of the owner of Surendranagar, threatened us,” said Debabrata Pal, a member of the OMC. “We protested but turned back to avoid any law and order problem. We consider this to be a plot by the owner to create a rift among Redbank workers.”

Both the gardens are owned by Rabin Paul. But while Paul has regained control of Surendranagar after almost four years, Redbank is still run by an OMC. Redbank has gone into liquidation from March 28 this year and the OMC members put the blame for the situation on the “irresponsible attitude” of Paul towards the garden.

Leaders of the Intuc-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers (NUPW), which enjoys the support of the workers of Surendranagar, said labourers are increasingly preferring them over the Citu. “Of the 113 permanent workers of Salboni, more than 100 are with us now,” said Pradip Mullick of NUPW. “Instead of plucking tealeaves and handing them over to the Citu-dominated OMC at Redbank, they prefer to work as casual workers at Surendranagar.”

In total, there are over 800 workers at Redbank.

The NUPW leader also claimed that it was Citu supporters who had tried to create trouble this morning. “But the workers thwarted their ploy,” Mullick said.

The workers in question said they had switched gardens on their own. “We used to get around Rs 15 to Rs 20 per day from the OMC for plucking tealeaves at Salboni, but at Surendranagar we are earning Rs 53.90 every day even as casual labourers,” said one of those who have crossed over.

Source: The Telegraph

Tea Workers demand return of owner

Banarhat: The situation in the closed Surendra Nagar Tea Estate became tense today as a section of the labourers decided to oppose the operations and maintenance committee (OMC) and demanded the return of the owner of the garden.

Of the 308 workers in the garden, 270 had gathered for a meeting within the premises today and demanded that Rabin Paul, the owner, take over the management of the garden. They also alleged that they were being exploited by the OMC, which is controlled by the Citu-affiliated Cha Bagan Mazdoor Union.

Situated in the Malbazar subdivision of Jalpaiguri district, the garden was shut down in September 2003 and the OMC took over soon after.

“The OMC is forcing us to accept anything between Rs 9 and Rs 35 a day for garden work (the daily wage of a permanent worker in the garden is Rs 50.90). They have also seized our job cards, which we need to produce for the 100-days employment scheme, and are paying us Rs 40 instead of the stipulated Rs 68,” alleged a woman worker, who did not want to be named. The workers at the meeting were unanimous in their demand that Paul should come back and take control. They alleged that members of the OMC were preventing the owner from entering the garden.

“On May 19, 2003, I was kept confined in the garden for 12 hours. Since then, I have not been allowed to enter the premises. I obtained a high court order on March 29, 2005, where the district administration was directed to enable me to take over the management of the garden. But no one has cooperated since then,” Paul said over phone from Calcutta. He claimed that he had met the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri on April 3, but no steps had been taken yet.

According to observers, the Intuc-affiliated National Union of Plantation Workers has of late gained predominance among a substantial section of workers and a showdown with the Citu-controlled OMC seems inevitable. The members of the OMC seem to be in no mood to relent.

“The owner himself is reluctant to enter the garden. However, I will look into the allegations against the OMC if I receive a complaint.” said Jalpaiguri district magistrate R.Ranjit.

Source: The Telegraph