Haileyburia Tea Estate lockout to continue as talks fail
The management had halted all operations at the four estates of Haileyburia Tea Estates on August 7 after labour unions had protested demanding payment of salary dues and other benefits.
According to the union leaders, the management had announced a lockout at the Semmni Valley, Vallakkadu, Chinnar, and Haileyburia divisions of Haileyburia Tea Estates Limited.
High Range Plantation Employees Union (INTUC) president Cyriac Thomas said: 'During the meeting with the DLO at Peerumade, the company representatives did not provide a timeline for the distribution of salary and other benefits. After the lockout was announced, the workers were facing a huge crisis. I will seek the Chief Minister intervention to solve the issue.'
High Range Estate Employees Association (CITU) vice-president Antappan M. Jacob said that the estate management had unilaterally announced the lockdown. 'The management declined to pay provident fund, gratuity, and salary to the workers. Even retired employees are unable to withdraw PF money from their account. When the workers' unions sought the salary dues, the company suddenly announced a lockout,' said Mr Jacob.
'Many migrant labourers work on the tea estate and the company is exploiting them. Over 150 migrant workers joined the CITU's recent protest at Elappara. The trade unions are ready to cooperate with the management. But the company is not ready to pay what is due to the workers,' said Mr. Jacob.
Meanwhile, Haileyburia Tea Estates senior manager M. Lingaraj said that during the meeting the workers' unions demanded the immediate settlement of all dues. 'The company has to deposit ₹5 crore into the provident fund account. We promised to the pay the salaries immediately, but the unions rejected this offer,'' said Mr Lingaraj. The unions stood firm on their demand for being paid the fringe benefits too.
'The company is facing a serious financial crisis and has put 102 acres of land for sale. But the government has not granted permission. In addition, the company had sought permission to fell 1,000 teak trees to tide over the financial crisis. But the Forest department has opposed it,' said the manager.
According to a senior Forest department official, the department grants permission for tree felling only after verifying land records.
The Haileyburia Tea Estates is one of the first tea plantations started by Europeans in the Peerumade hills.
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