Assam Chah Karmachari Sangha stages protest, demands release of pension

DOOMDOOMA/TINSUKIA: Assam Chah Karmachari Sangha (ACKS) staged a three-hour sit-in in front of the registered office of James Warren Tea Ltd (JWTL) at Dhoedaam TE on Wednesday for non-fulfillment of their six demands like releasing pension, filling up of vacant posts and promotion, providing referral/group hospital or alternate healthcare facility, regularization of the posts of teachers working as daily rated workers and not curtailing the other facilities enjoyed by the employees.

In a press meet after the sit-in, Rishab Kalita, central secretary of ACKS, told media persons that although the full-time Director of Warren Tea Ltd (WTL), Ajay Kumar Singh gave assurance to the employees of JWTL after bifurcation of the parent tea company – WTL- that the services of all the employees of the newly-formed company would be protected, yet it (JWTL) failed to keep its commitment in letter and spirit. As for instance, he pointed out that a bilateral discussion was held on April 1, 2019 at the ACKS, Doomdooma Circle office with the management of the company. But even after that, many visiting agents who took charge one after another, overlooked the employees' demands.

Finally, Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) intervened and on August 6, 2020, held a bilateral discussion at ABITA's office. As per the minutes of the bilateral discussion, the outstanding arrears of the employees were released. But notice was issued under Section 9A Prov. 33 of Industrial Dispute (ID) Act on December 28, 2020 stating that henceforth no pension to the retired employees would be given. According to the employees, this notice was one-sided as change of service condition could not be imposed unilaterally. Although a bilateral agreement on promotion was executed on March 5, 2016, it has not been implemented so far. At the same time, around 100 vacant posts in the seven tea gardens under it are lying vacant. Instead of fresh recruitment, the management indulged in engaging the daily rated temporary workers.

On the other hand, as per provision of the Plantation Labour Act (PLA), the tea gardens should provide the facility of garden/group hospitals to the workers for health care. But instead, the tea gardens opened the Central Hospitals and now those also have been closed down. As an alternative to it, the State Government suggested for tie-up with 24 private nursing homes under PPP scheme. This also has not been implemented by the company, alleged ACKS leaders.

Strangely, the powers of the garden managers had been curtailed to great extent. They are not in a position to function independently. Everything is controlled from the Kolkata office. The ACKS leaders said that personnel of clerical grade who have never seen the tea estates, control the affairs of the tea gardens here sitting in the Kolkata office. They lamented that all purchase are done in the Kolkata office, thus depriving the local businessmen/suppliers here although the prime objective of opening an industry is basically direct or indirect employment generation.

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