Labourers of Dekorai TE launch indefinite strike in Jamugurihat

A CORRESPONDENT

JAMUGURIHAT: The labourers of five divisions under Dekorai TE, in the northern part of Jamugurihat, which was managed and run by McLeod Russel earlier, launched an indefinite strike from Thursday.

McLeod Russel Tea Company had sold their tea gardens to Carbon Company last year. Now these tea gardens are run and managed by the company but the labourers are being deprived of their hard-earned wages, bonus and other timely incentives and regular increments. It is alleged that the labourers and employees have not got the salary and wages of the previous month.

As per the call given by the central committee of Assam Cha Mazdoor Sangha, the employees staged a pen-down strike on Thursday. The representatives of the Dekorai branch of Assam Cha Mazdoor Sangha met the manager on Tuesday and demanded to clear their outstanding dues within 24 hours. But the tea company authority allegedly did not fulfil their demand or paid their dues.

Addressing the media gathering, Jyotirmoy Tosa, general secretary of Dekorai branch of Assam Cha Mazdoor Sangha, said that the employees and labourers of the TE had been deprived and denied their genuine dues, including the benefits of PF, medical allowance, travelling allowances etc. Tosa further added that those who got superannuation in 2022 had been deprived from getting their retirement benefits and other dues as well. The representatives of the labour union warned the owner concerned to clear the outstanding dues as early as possible otherwise they would go for democratic demonstration in the days to come. While the daily wage earners are deprived of their hard-earned wages on the eve of Rongali Bihu, the State Government has been busy with Bihu for the Guinness Book of World Records, exhausting crores of rupees from the state treasury, added Tosa.