Latest news with #CyriacThomas
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Haileyburia Tea Estate lockout to continue as talks fail
The lockout at Haileyburia Tea Estates in Peerumade will continue after talks with the Deputy Labour Officer (DLO) failed on Wednesday (August 13). 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.
The Hindu
10-08-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Haileyburia Tea Estates at Peerumade announces lockout
One of the first tea plantations started by Europeans in Peerumade in Idukki is facing closure after the management stopped all operations from Thursday. According to workers, the management has not provided wages and benefits to employees of the Semmni Valley, Vallakkadu, Chinnar and Haileyburia divisions of Haileyburia Tea Estates Limited for the past two months. 800 permanent workers According to plantation leaders, the four estates encompass approximately 2,400 hectares and have 800 permanent workers, besides hundreds of migrant workers. They have not received salaries and benefits for the past two months. The operations of the tea factory at Semmni Valley have also been stopped. According to workers, the management suddenly announced the lockout. 'Plantation work is the only income for families in the area. The management failed to distribute the wages in time,' said a worker. High Range Plantation Employees Union (INTUC) president Cyriac Thomas said that the trade unions had intervened on the issue to solve it without delay. 'A meeting with the Deputy Labour Officer will be held at Peerumade on August 13 to discuss the issue,' said Mr. Thomas. ₹1.39-crore loss According to Haileyburia estate officials, the company has been facing a deep financial crisis for the past several months. The company faced a loss of ₹1.39 crore in the first three months of this financial year. 'The management has sought support from the workers to continue the functioning of the estates. But on August 5 some workers entered the office with outsiders and threatened the officials, resulting in the sudden lockout of the company. The non-functioning of the factory led to the loss of 25,000 kg of tea, amounting to ₹7.5 lakh,' said the officials. According to historical records, the Haileyburia Tea Estates Limited was incorporated on August 23, 1923 by Scottish planter Frank Bissett, who planted the Semmni Valley Tea Estate and acquired the adjoining Haileyburia and Chinnar tea estates, near Elappara in Peerumade. The renowned Haileybury Public School in Hertford Heath, England, bestowed the estate with the name Haileyburia.
