Wednesday, August 08, 2018

Solidarity with Tea Workers

Hundreds of thousands of tea plantation workers in eastern India went on a three-day strike on Tuesday demanding a 20% increase in their daily wage, amounting to 39p from the government and estate owners.
“More than 400,000 workers from around 370 tea gardens are participating in the three-day strike,” said Aloke Chakraborty, president of the central committee of united union of plantation workers. “The minimum daily wage for a worker at the plantation is 169 rupees. We have demanded a 20% raise to 203 rupees,” he added.
Media reports said the strike was being supported by around two dozen local labour unions. The unions hope to exert maximum pressure as disruption of work around the ongoing Indian monsoon – when production peaks – means bigger financial losses for the owners.




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