Four lakh tea garden workers observe token strike in Bengal

Nearly four lakh tea garden workers in West Bengal's Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Alipurduar districts today observed a token strike to press for their long standing demand for wage revision.
The strike was called by a joint forum of 23 unions, a spokesman of United Trade Union Congress (UTUC), which is participating in the movement said here today.
As a result, all tea gardens in Darjeeling and the Terai-Dooars region remained closed, UTUC leader Nirmal Das said.
Memorandam pressing for their demand was submitted at 45 places in the three districts at the offices of the District Magistrates, Block Development Officers, Sub-divisional officers and local police station, Das said.

Copies of the memorandum were also faxed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Das said.
The decision to observe the strike was taken after the failure of five rounds of tripartite meetings involving the unions, the management and the labour department, Das said.
The last meeting was held last August, he added.
The forum has called for a two-day Uttar Banga (North Bengal) bandh on November 11 and 12 if their demand was not met, Das said.