Kolkata: All seven trade unions of about 87 tea estates in Darjeeling district of West Bengal have called for a 12-hour strike Friday after the failure in talks between leaders of unions and the managements of gardens over puja bonus issue. The unions have given a ‘bandh call’ from 6.00am to 6.00pm, October 4, a trade union leader told reporters here.
Darjeeling Indian Tea Association (DITA) secretary Mohan Chettri said that the unions had been demanding a bonus of 20 per cent. “However, we have been offered 12 per cent,” Chettri informed.
Chhetri also stated that at present none of the workers in the tea gardens will accept the bonus offered. “There will be a meeting between the management of the tea estates and the unions where the issue would be finalized,” Chhetri informed.
To a query, Chhetri said that the estimated crop loss for the proposed strike cannot be estimated at the moment as it will vary across gardens.
PTI
