Kochi: The agitating plantation workers blocked the roads leading to Munnar on the fifth day of their protest on Thursday even as talks held in Thiruvananthapuram on settling the bonus issue failed.
Over 1,500 women workers, mainly of the Kanan Devan Hills Plantation company, squatted on the roads to the town from Theni, Kochi and Coimbatore, creating traffic jams at Munnar. Tourists were left stranded as the vehicles were not allowed to move.
“The workers come by about 9.30 a.m. and leave by 6 p.m.,” said Mr P.A. Hisham, a local resident, who runs two tourism properties in the town. “They cause no harm except blocking the roads.”
Industry circles doubt the motive of the agitation as the workers have raised their original demands. “It started with a demand for higher bonus, and now they have raised their demands for higher salary knowing well that the industry is not in a position to concede their demands,” sources said.
The employees of Tata Tea, who kept off the strike till Wednesday, also joined them on Thursday.
With reports of a group of people planning to arrive from Theni to support the agitating workers, what started as a labour issue is taking a linguistic spin too, they said.
At the talks, called by Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, the managements said they would not be able to give in to the demands. The talks will resume in Kochi on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the reports of the death of a plantation worker at the General Hospital caused some concern among the workers. It was later clarified that the death was due to heart attack.
Mallika, 38, who was arrested on Wednesday on charges of creating unrest among the people, was produced before the judicial first class magistrate, Devikulam. The court remanded her for 14 days.
