Joint forum of tea trade union demands intervention of Nirmala Sitharaman, Mamata Banerjee

Jul 28, 2019

Siliguri (WB), July 28 (ANI): Joint forum, a platform of 29 tea trade unions, has sought the intervention of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the implementation of Minimum Wages Act for the tea garden workers. West Bengal government had formed a Minimum Wages Advisory Committee to resolve the crisis earlier. However, the forum claims not a single positive step has been taken by the committee in favour of the workers even after conducting 14 meetings on the issue. With their demands not being met despite repeated pleas, the forum has now decided to step up its protest. A meeting is being organised on July 29 in Terai and Dooars and later the workers plan to take out a march. While speaking to ANI, Pratap Kujur, tea garden worker and forum leader said, “We have sent our demands to Mamata Banerjee and Nirmala Sitharaman and have requested them to call us to resolve the crisis. We are hoping for the best.”