Self-immolation bid was only a sign, warn workers
Woman plantation workers sit on an indefinite strike demanding wage hike and 20 percent bonus
Kochi: The state government has got a brief period of time to negotiate a settlement between the striking plantation workers and their management, failing which the situation should spin out of control.
The statutory Plantation Labour Committee, which met three times in the last one month, is meeting on Tuesday in a last ditch effort to find a settlement between the employees who wanted their daily wages raised from the present Rs 232 to Rs 500.
The managements are willing to concede a raise of only Rs 35. The Central trade unions have taken over the agitation with Elamaram Kareem, general secretary of the state unit of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions is launching an indefinite fast on Saturday in front of the secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram to press the demands.
The other Central trade unions—AITUC and INTUC—are also part o the united agitation of the plantation workers.
The self-immolation bid of a woman employee in Munnar on Thursday was a sign of the desperation the workers have found themselves in, said Anthony Raj, a spokesperson of the Ponpilai Orumai women’s movement.
“We will be left with no option but to take extreme steps. Both the government and the trade unions, which have been discussing the issue at PLC, have done injustice to us.”
The workers who blocked the roads in Munnar, as well as in other centres, however, kept off the road on Thursday.
Murali K, manager of Abad Copper Castle resort in Munnar said the tourism industry is keeping its fingers crossed.
“The workers have promised not to block the roads till Tuesday, when the talks are scheduled,” he told Deccan Chronicle.
“They have told us that the agitation would change tack should the talks fail.” The season has started on a promising note as the agitation has till now been very peaceful, he said.
Plantation workers end road blockade, special meet today
Giving a breather to commuters on the NH 212 connecting Kozhikode with Bangalore, the CITU called off the ongoing road blockade and also cancelled the indefinite road blockade announced from Saturday onwards.
The united forum of trade unions in the tea sector of Wayanad would organize a special convention of all trade unions at Meppadi on Saturday to decide the future course of agitation.
CITU leader P. Gagarin told Deccan Chronicle that the indefinite siege of ghat roads to Wayanad has been cancelled and more unified agitations would be planned.
“Instead of road blockade, we would start an indefinite hunger strike in six centres in the district from Monday onwards,” he added.
About 16,000 plantation workers of the district have been on an indefinite strike demanding 20 percent bonus and wage hike for the last many days.
The agitating workers and commuters clashed on Thursday when vehicles were trapped for many hours in the siege as the women workers refused to end the agitation despite the repeated requests by the leaders.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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