West Bengal tea workers demand hike in wages

Siliguri (West Bengal), June 7 (ANI): The Coordination Committee of the Tea Workers Union observed a 24-hours strike in West Bengal's Siliguri District on Monday demanding hike in wages.

The Defence Committee of Plantation Workers Rights (DCPWR) also participated in the strike.

The Coordination Committee has called the strike on the nine-point charter citing different demands for the workers.

"Today's strike is called by The Coordination Committee. Except Progressive Tea Workers all the unions have participated. Our strike is a success. Our demands are hike in wages, medical facility in hospital," said Prakash Jha, leader of the Coordination Committee.

He said that the committee has been demanding the implementation of basic needs of the workers, like increase in the wage rate of the workers, repair of their quarters and to open the closed tea gardens.

Jha said that the workers were only getting a pittance as of rupees 67 as wages.here are about 350 tea gardens in Terai-Doars region, and 92 gardens in Darjeeling hills, employing nearly 350000 workers. (ANI)