Trade unions to ask Duncans Group to clear dues of workers in 7 tea estates as gardens open
Mani Kumar Darnal, the joint general secretary of the INTUC-backed National Union of Plantation Workers, said labourers in the seven gardens were living amid insecurity because 10 months had passed since the acquisition and yet, the Centre had failed to find buyers for the estates. "We welcome the high court order and want the company to resume activities in the gardens immediately and simultaneously work out a plan to clear the dues," he added. Asked about the high court order, representatives of the Duncans group in north Bengal said they were yet to receive a copy of the same. "We have learnt about the Calcutta High Court order but haven't received it yet. No new instruction has reached us from the company either. Once we receive the directives, we would chart out plans in consultation with senior officers in the company," said K.K. Mehra, a vice-president of the Duncans group. Asked about the unions' demand for the payment of the wages, he said: "We don't know if trade unions will be present at the September 29 meeting convened by the state labour department. As far as we know, some other issues are likely to be discussed at the meeting. We are yet to get any formal intimation from the department." (Telegraph)
