Tea workers in Wayanad on strike

WAYANAD: Over 6,000 plantation workers in the tea sector joined the indefinite strike called by the joint platform of trade unions in Wayanad on Friday, demanding Rs 500 daily wages and 20 percent bonus. 

 

The agitation was a sequel to the  women workers’ stir in Munnar.    The strike was complete in the four plantations of Harrison Malayalam Limited which is the biggest in the district.

 

The workers who arrived at the estate as usual in the morning started shouting slogans and organized protest marches. Hundreds of workers marched to the offices of Sentinel Rock, Achur and Arappatta estates of HML.

 

In the majority of estates,  the daily wage is  Rs 232 which the managements refused to revise  though the period for wage revision was over on December 14, 2014, it was pointed out. The district has about 20,000 plantation workers. The agitation would continue in the coming days. The government has  called a meeting of union representatives   in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday.